tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11635938889555056082024-03-14T05:59:41.801-04:00Big Tall Ken's Big Long BlogKenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-68797019275955502672023-01-25T22:49:00.002-05:002023-05-02T22:07:34.088-04:00Creating the Illustration for the SCBWI Michigan 2023 Conference - Part 3: Feedback and final comp<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJJMAWKy4PbjGu0sYVvh03vBVlYEcvuz70Bfi6VQidI3hSZMlZ4V4oL-95GDTvXT9Gcmz06apYQxH3t30fPzKMCvmB_Zeq7Y3viK7S8XA8dJkHdp3GKlU3JG9E9aiR3Fa1Dpc1v4YjGs7qg7arm91WkeEr2NZ5PE9AwgRrrpq1zLMYj3fNJdOdu7_2Q/s587/Part%203%20feedback%20and%20final%20comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJJMAWKy4PbjGu0sYVvh03vBVlYEcvuz70Bfi6VQidI3hSZMlZ4V4oL-95GDTvXT9Gcmz06apYQxH3t30fPzKMCvmB_Zeq7Y3viK7S8XA8dJkHdp3GKlU3JG9E9aiR3Fa1Dpc1v4YjGs7qg7arm91WkeEr2NZ5PE9AwgRrrpq1zLMYj3fNJdOdu7_2Q/s320/Part%203%20feedback%20and%20final%20comp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I received positive feedback from the SCBWI Michigan conference
team on the three concept sketches. They
liked the cave scene and asked if the dragon could be included. They even gave the OK for a 980 x 500 px banner
to give me more room for the dragon.
Yay!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The first thing I did was to mock up the composition in
ArtRage. I didn’t realize how much
bigger 1080 pixels would be than 200 or 500 pixels!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit03wD_dCaFKgrvjnTKdTMz8oeRbv0f1UPbaWIHFh2uhICW2tHVr2ubN2-69KyIxe4OCbO5rCILM6bJ6qZSqvFsC6W7dSfrf9f_OtaTZlna7F4wAL2PExbYDL7VDUMRIuimFtQMjvyUaRLHFGWQ9LlRuYiIs7h-NMAev9RhQzN9SuOswuVPDNVLmSzgg/s1676/SCBWI-MI%20convention%20sketch%20WIP%202022-12-18%20225841.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1676" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit03wD_dCaFKgrvjnTKdTMz8oeRbv0f1UPbaWIHFh2uhICW2tHVr2ubN2-69KyIxe4OCbO5rCILM6bJ6qZSqvFsC6W7dSfrf9f_OtaTZlna7F4wAL2PExbYDL7VDUMRIuimFtQMjvyUaRLHFGWQ9LlRuYiIs7h-NMAev9RhQzN9SuOswuVPDNVLmSzgg/s320/SCBWI-MI%20convention%20sketch%20WIP%202022-12-18%20225841.jpg" width="320" /></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">My initial attempt was to just make the stalagmites really tall and the elevator would stay in the same position for all three
formats with the dragon showing up in the two larger ones, which you can see in
the dull red and dull green shapes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I drew some items with digital ink and others with digital pencil. I thought the pen drawn elements would be
stronger in the foreground and the pencil ones would fade into the
background. It didn’t seem to work as
well as I thought.<o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">I also played with the layer blend modes to create the
headlamp spotlight effect. I just made a
yellow-orange triangle shape on a separate layer and found the screen blend
mode worked pretty well when reducing the opacity a little bit, too.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I felt the stalagmites looked too tall and the elevator
looked cramped at the top in the square format.
Since I had drawn many of the elements on different layers, it was easy
to rearrange them into this composition, which was closer to my PowerPoint
rough comp.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUm_38DXI6aIeob20QW9zGdnsIIRlARhOLUoTYj8jcenXZPGATro3LJ0JOPqzHmLHXwPzmqaX8ktHX3kZbwFBgXvRPDgrYWjAeBfGZGStd9QAj09QZ4eX833vBW5Oh2FVvIleLdk5muCVZK5rvIL1K7BQlUy_a8_En0LoNyU429tVNNRmUaofXC15CQ/s504/square%20cave%20layout%201%20jpg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="504" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmUm_38DXI6aIeob20QW9zGdnsIIRlARhOLUoTYj8jcenXZPGATro3LJ0JOPqzHmLHXwPzmqaX8ktHX3kZbwFBgXvRPDgrYWjAeBfGZGStd9QAj09QZ4eX833vBW5Oh2FVvIleLdk5muCVZK5rvIL1K7BQlUy_a8_En0LoNyU429tVNNRmUaofXC15CQ/s320/square%20cave%20layout%201%20jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Throughout this illustration process, I used a combination
of digital and traditional tools. Periodically,
I reviewed print outs to look more critically at the piece, which is what I did
here. Scale up the miners. Make sure there is value contrast with the
spotlight and background. New ideas
came. The spear shape at the end of the
dragon’s tail would become a pen nib. Hidden
jewels might be in CMY (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow) colors.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfylMflVJtJozmy5oW4hmf6JJL2fovhcyD-nXyG4MEbBXZ4g9bmJwERpI2g3_VA8csVVvEzZpJxPzB-5xcdq3CniAk92VRGyfMk0unu89vlve3j_7o51XAnUz9sh7ryPdYoY6v-36NuEwDbwlFqvbjtcYPmBIHhSvLRrnMoi1ZwUXE72J2TxbVo_8bpQ/s1080/IMG_9368.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfylMflVJtJozmy5oW4hmf6JJL2fovhcyD-nXyG4MEbBXZ4g9bmJwERpI2g3_VA8csVVvEzZpJxPzB-5xcdq3CniAk92VRGyfMk0unu89vlve3j_7o51XAnUz9sh7ryPdYoY6v-36NuEwDbwlFqvbjtcYPmBIHhSvLRrnMoi1ZwUXE72J2TxbVo_8bpQ/s320/IMG_9368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Based on the printout I scaled up my drawing on 11x17
tabloid copy paper. I started with the
primary elements: the gopher and mole in the elevator, the dragon, the timid
goblin, and the pen, pencil, and paintbrush in the stalactites and
stalagmites. Then my mind wandered
around the rest of the cavern, imagining what else might be hidden there: a
stack of books, glass inkwells, an iPad, a dwarf on a bridge.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH73RwUabmbdMWulULHxp7h1avD_i8FZrzSV7Ecs7yXQ57L7VLTshLP_rebR8-zfTzNqEuTL5GLFxjpB0XM-1WQ6YZDdGFZoUqDv5kMcUBVc8Y-f8z7e6Bb7Oa7WtQDJZlbiSMFJzYkMloAzSN_IhlMRZRQt9HI2PL1yFTLSsvQxFlipD7Q2FU7ZALIg/s1080/IMG_9370.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH73RwUabmbdMWulULHxp7h1avD_i8FZrzSV7Ecs7yXQ57L7VLTshLP_rebR8-zfTzNqEuTL5GLFxjpB0XM-1WQ6YZDdGFZoUqDv5kMcUBVc8Y-f8z7e6Bb7Oa7WtQDJZlbiSMFJzYkMloAzSN_IhlMRZRQt9HI2PL1yFTLSsvQxFlipD7Q2FU7ZALIg/s320/IMG_9370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Here are some other sketches.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQy_mdyLs7IZvCCvn-w3lfTzSppNmjPhUgED4VZsLubvYge2ptVKWYSk0hHbxIGyOk6mOOkNn19CTZL_XqdueRIcpc-j-y56f7Pwt4HgdIyGr3Uq85-b0RmFxjMViHKmxggSqKMlPNrU-lwWvlUN-7G_I5ZSSz6Xyk6qnInsGByiVDcR--UN9-tC7JA/s1080/IMG_9372.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQy_mdyLs7IZvCCvn-w3lfTzSppNmjPhUgED4VZsLubvYge2ptVKWYSk0hHbxIGyOk6mOOkNn19CTZL_XqdueRIcpc-j-y56f7Pwt4HgdIyGr3Uq85-b0RmFxjMViHKmxggSqKMlPNrU-lwWvlUN-7G_I5ZSSz6Xyk6qnInsGByiVDcR--UN9-tC7JA/s320/IMG_9372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Another version was drawn on tabloid paper, shifting things
a bit and polishing up some of the ideas.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I had also done some research with Google, looking up mine elevator,
which drove the change from a chain and gear mechanism to a simple hook and
cable. <o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5Vj1C7GjUGIRg3mWpcH-66fuEP9lic2EWKLXCl7CDPoQtavf_xjhbA5A4R579-CHLE-q6ozVjXsb1PW88fIStna0UoJKGbWfKQWWksU80VZTNCIhsWoHTFWSFUSqTWHhOuNC1UlaOQyZqyfaRYaIqcG_C7_aNUEkEQKAgKL-kT5MIo48wAOi0zyWcw/s1080/IMG_9371.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS5Vj1C7GjUGIRg3mWpcH-66fuEP9lic2EWKLXCl7CDPoQtavf_xjhbA5A4R579-CHLE-q6ozVjXsb1PW88fIStna0UoJKGbWfKQWWksU80VZTNCIhsWoHTFWSFUSqTWHhOuNC1UlaOQyZqyfaRYaIqcG_C7_aNUEkEQKAgKL-kT5MIo48wAOi0zyWcw/s320/IMG_9371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I tried out a few different pencils and techniques to draw the
stone textures and the characters. I
used the flat of the pencil tip and danced it around a bit for the most part. Then scanned them into Photoshop with my
Plustek Optic Pro A320L scanner and was happy with the combination of
traditional pencil and digital color.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1qkduuiV657zvMC3TXO2bRy4LzJXNDHRHaMZxO7uk5sNpsvpkCSTQOdsLa-b16-Ke0XSyCM10nDyzA8IySGvlwp0EsAAb7iPHLKeA7bNizVDQT63FbpZR9HceKUpQ8Cc96ZJgLgYAJ9kPkpHqFJ45igw9jAioe40q5HE8J-jP47rbgLEMB1DOj2Tug/s1253/SCBWI-MI%20WIP%20pencils%20screenshot%2020230102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1253" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1qkduuiV657zvMC3TXO2bRy4LzJXNDHRHaMZxO7uk5sNpsvpkCSTQOdsLa-b16-Ke0XSyCM10nDyzA8IySGvlwp0EsAAb7iPHLKeA7bNizVDQT63FbpZR9HceKUpQ8Cc96ZJgLgYAJ9kPkpHqFJ45igw9jAioe40q5HE8J-jP47rbgLEMB1DOj2Tug/s320/SCBWI-MI%20WIP%20pencils%20screenshot%2020230102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPhj7yTveyFSdvUiw4JvIDzI9ZXvz70CY7Etp_e5YpbOJbWEf1f_oDWyZcpYDetzljJP8yQNGtvngM9nV5nt3bKM5tBJ8sRalUZF0DDVxAMvYnPmFor7CQXuNaKFr3sbi4G81Nx8nG-PJa_ymUuw5zNvehEpfGm4kNNsfdUQXVK7QHSoXn6pQRzcarA/s872/SCBWI-MI%20WIP%20screenshot%2020230102.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="872" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPhj7yTveyFSdvUiw4JvIDzI9ZXvz70CY7Etp_e5YpbOJbWEf1f_oDWyZcpYDetzljJP8yQNGtvngM9nV5nt3bKM5tBJ8sRalUZF0DDVxAMvYnPmFor7CQXuNaKFr3sbi4G81Nx8nG-PJa_ymUuw5zNvehEpfGm4kNNsfdUQXVK7QHSoXn6pQRzcarA/s320/SCBWI-MI%20WIP%20screenshot%2020230102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">While driving to work after the holiday break, I thought I
should try to include something about Michigan to represent our SCBWI chapter. <a href="http://www.briannefarley.com/">Brianne
Farley</a> did a great job of this with the SCBWI Michigan website banner,
which included a state bird – a robin, state flower – an apple blossom, sand
dunes, and a lake. My idea? Incorporate the shape of Michigan’s upper and
lower peninsula into the depths of the cave.
<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38zuBVmk__MfcPuqIgbp8kNXOL09yWAajIRqh_yi0yfbFPH2FIEg4XBnBZgGoneFEY-ZdAbrIu7v6ze7_koX8NfCwvFerzEJm1JxWGlk_egVArE0Eurj9lxDYuw2d0G8DCD22DOteL42nCFV58oH8HBFW9mLQ78obASnI6nGcUi5PKJswlyZpXdgAHQ/s1080/IMG_9373.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38zuBVmk__MfcPuqIgbp8kNXOL09yWAajIRqh_yi0yfbFPH2FIEg4XBnBZgGoneFEY-ZdAbrIu7v6ze7_koX8NfCwvFerzEJm1JxWGlk_egVArE0Eurj9lxDYuw2d0G8DCD22DOteL42nCFV58oH8HBFW9mLQ78obASnI6nGcUi5PKJswlyZpXdgAHQ/s320/IMG_9373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As soon as I got to my desk, I sketched it up. I imagined the thin strip of water between
the upper and lower peninsula as the narrow bridge in the Mines of Moria, where
Gandalf defended it against the fiery Balrog. The state outlines would be in the negative
space of the cavern’s darkness.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Once back at the computer, I played around with the scale
and placement of a Michigan map on my scanned in pencil drawing and created the
layered look I was after.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlZ77k_etclunjBbyDgN1tb0veNcZVVALRgyE4rouP6OgYAkHrpqv1qbdwdo9DlANgkRgtmRgvdBl65efznD5qMiL4gMqFT6tk5S0g7AR-ohz0wNRTOtobhm1h_IswBG4uANYb0mEDcAY4GIqZ_sMIlC8h_2csUMkC-qIgxKRCsZ5tetXGslAsgBkRg/s1080/IMG_9380.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlZ77k_etclunjBbyDgN1tb0veNcZVVALRgyE4rouP6OgYAkHrpqv1qbdwdo9DlANgkRgtmRgvdBl65efznD5qMiL4gMqFT6tk5S0g7AR-ohz0wNRTOtobhm1h_IswBG4uANYb0mEDcAY4GIqZ_sMIlC8h_2csUMkC-qIgxKRCsZ5tetXGslAsgBkRg/s320/IMG_9380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Once I confirmed that the conference team was onboard with
the concept, it was time to make the “finished” pencil drawings.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-73744988814683491132023-01-18T19:58:00.000-05:002023-01-18T19:58:05.665-05:00Creating the Illustration for the SCBWI Michigan 2023 Conference - Part 2: Initial comps<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtU5gzZHV7ow07dxc54LA8XBkSyuszX72vX-RBs-O75uPTQ_FHdtWIK-pexemM8sWZPKLHL9bIaSTu4_nze1eppxQGBTaNqxG7aDNbNh74f-k-WsFUiDi7V1iBKOCF60ke1J6UBu4HS-rKgzOVdzq2rcG5-h_qbBAqdelXjQ2L6El5kzJGGb_becaRg/s489/Part%202%20concept%20to%20finish%20-%20roughs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="489" data-original-width="489" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtU5gzZHV7ow07dxc54LA8XBkSyuszX72vX-RBs-O75uPTQ_FHdtWIK-pexemM8sWZPKLHL9bIaSTu4_nze1eppxQGBTaNqxG7aDNbNh74f-k-WsFUiDi7V1iBKOCF60ke1J6UBu4HS-rKgzOVdzq2rcG5-h_qbBAqdelXjQ2L6El5kzJGGb_becaRg/s320/Part%202%20concept%20to%20finish%20-%20roughs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">After brainstorming ideas for the illustration for the <a href="https://michigan.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-mi-spring-conference-2023/">SCBWI
Michigan</a> 2023 conference, “Digging Deeper: Unearthing Your Literary
Treasures”, I needed compositions that would work in two size formats: 1080 x
1080 px and 980 x 200 px.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I focused on the long, narrow format first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My logic was if I could make a good
illustration in the smaller format, I could always add more elements in the
larger square.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wanted to have three concepts to submit and roughly worked
out these four.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the second concept, I
thought of a geographic cross section of the earth with its different layers
and hidden resources like sedimentary rock, bedrock, ground water, oil, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I quickly tossed this idea out because 1) the
text would fight the text about the conference, and 2) it would be difficult to
include characters (i.e. boring!).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9e4J9ZbR755_W4Yj_XwzJMnkfQMrzPgHJza0v-kPK1xHbz3kNlvoaS9TWc8X9HBMkeO8pdL1ICdfmWX6uS7SA_QJUtNYw__PTPjjo1eJ65xRRtdAgXUkZMBo2lXIFzyIZMThUmyxwuzU7bRWJ48Dl1U6zWBAdzuByDwTwW6_ZnDdK0aN_38QjHciHmA/s3024/IMG_9222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9e4J9ZbR755_W4Yj_XwzJMnkfQMrzPgHJza0v-kPK1xHbz3kNlvoaS9TWc8X9HBMkeO8pdL1ICdfmWX6uS7SA_QJUtNYw__PTPjjo1eJ65xRRtdAgXUkZMBo2lXIFzyIZMThUmyxwuzU7bRWJ48Dl1U6zWBAdzuByDwTwW6_ZnDdK0aN_38QjHciHmA/s320/IMG_9222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I then used Microsoft PowerPoint to mockup the three concepts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I use PowerPoint almost every day in my engineering
job and keep learning new tricks with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It can be used much like Adobe Illustrator and InDesign for concepts
like this and is much easier to use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are lots of ready to use shapes, vector icons, and clip art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although you can’t see the layers, each
element is on one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, you can send
elements forward or backward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can
import images and perform basic edits to them and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll make another post in the future about
some of these tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until then you can
find plenty of resources on the internet to learn how to use it.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSJt12_sbZZ84wuJAh38ap7G6JhLzSCZ9sgD_clllykLPiqRcSmHh3pqTGDDWEEwSbCM7pyf3RRE1_sWpXVWdGMrVcDBy8vqip9dFyf4bTouE6qnIYgS6SxtBtBhMqZaYiZEDVjONNa34HELeYHhcWAjgL4gH6bfQzjS8xlYY5aZ5czv8x7hY5ehoLw/s909/Screenshot%202023-01-18%20172712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="909" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSJt12_sbZZ84wuJAh38ap7G6JhLzSCZ9sgD_clllykLPiqRcSmHh3pqTGDDWEEwSbCM7pyf3RRE1_sWpXVWdGMrVcDBy8vqip9dFyf4bTouE6qnIYgS6SxtBtBhMqZaYiZEDVjONNa34HELeYHhcWAjgL4gH6bfQzjS8xlYY5aZ5czv8x7hY5ehoLw/s320/Screenshot%202023-01-18%20172712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Lva1RysJ4wtXVXRMxlLELXbHyoAWa3WFquseta6UP9fSVgSgT5IBHlmP_Db3oKLQcajOxOuEVzGOLnVK6vPpAvN4bQI8a6cPkVI_52kqhwQ5TSqhK8dSIPRvZZJ7pWkh1PagaoAgu38kseiG9nlO0PaoHPHyWqywTvVsWbWCob2FaLNvcj3Wn_VSow/s1549/Screenshot%202023-01-18%20173034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="1549" height="81" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Lva1RysJ4wtXVXRMxlLELXbHyoAWa3WFquseta6UP9fSVgSgT5IBHlmP_Db3oKLQcajOxOuEVzGOLnVK6vPpAvN4bQI8a6cPkVI_52kqhwQ5TSqhK8dSIPRvZZJ7pWkh1PagaoAgu38kseiG9nlO0PaoHPHyWqywTvVsWbWCob2FaLNvcj3Wn_VSow/s320/Screenshot%202023-01-18%20173034.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBaEr-gXr22q169OYNyFBP7hm4wrcRtC57Sxle-2xbTGd-ILus3HZzNC8i5CzE3Z7twbX-SmASyH0Jb87rsplUDsba1pBl5QXXGUe_3F-NJlw5JrU3N3h4pa3WdiK-wvViSwmCIDQptFTPxKHvsIYcR5q9IeRtY7p8Un24XjX82p5TzW2wsZe-yaQfQ/s1040/3%20PowerPoint%20mock%20ups%20-%20horizontal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1040" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBaEr-gXr22q169OYNyFBP7hm4wrcRtC57Sxle-2xbTGd-ILus3HZzNC8i5CzE3Z7twbX-SmASyH0Jb87rsplUDsba1pBl5QXXGUe_3F-NJlw5JrU3N3h4pa3WdiK-wvViSwmCIDQptFTPxKHvsIYcR5q9IeRtY7p8Un24XjX82p5TzW2wsZe-yaQfQ/s320/3%20PowerPoint%20mock%20ups%20-%20horizontal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">For these I used default shapes, icons, and a few freehand
shapes. I wasn’t given the final text,
so I added what I thought might be there to make sure there was a reasonable
amount of space for it. Once I had
enough to get the idea across, I mocked up square versions of each one. I wanted to feel confident that each concept
could work in either format. I imagined
each piece as a mini poster, where the text is the focal point.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup7U5yLOK3tsKsxMZRepqTK6SVgmbRrph9vdrnDUCwm1pLe0KgGoDxVqCtZ7MpzcbN_PnE7deYbPvO2FLn0W2EPnAo9_Pitjmsio737Qm_RrcdTSaU2y2wf0ec-YLquaoCBK3PWEpDMo0udaNrEDVzQvO3Ye_UK60MecpigMla5vwfxhN-RH4r9Vl6w/s1247/3%20PowerPoint%20mock%20ups%20-%20square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="1247" height="116" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup7U5yLOK3tsKsxMZRepqTK6SVgmbRrph9vdrnDUCwm1pLe0KgGoDxVqCtZ7MpzcbN_PnE7deYbPvO2FLn0W2EPnAo9_Pitjmsio737Qm_RrcdTSaU2y2wf0ec-YLquaoCBK3PWEpDMo0udaNrEDVzQvO3Ye_UK60MecpigMla5vwfxhN-RH4r9Vl6w/s320/3%20PowerPoint%20mock%20ups%20-%20square.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I printed these out, and a few new ideas popped up, such as
using a pen, pencil, and paintbrush as stalactites and stalagmites in the cave.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmk3yHm7FWaChC8-beXQ7shkscZp5eUfNMIyh1SaviVOz-dcIib5WM_LfxfyMvqR46AlhNOM4dqI04qgsvHd4ecc1bCKi4e3ZSG0Jb7I0_IN6EVbEt9A_A56XfR0NdloKW6I8HgKpGMDYCw-iTS9ATkL0niFIzFZnVuPIHc35H74wwBaE-KlE3DU3Ug/s864/IMG_9224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="651" data-original-width="864" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmk3yHm7FWaChC8-beXQ7shkscZp5eUfNMIyh1SaviVOz-dcIib5WM_LfxfyMvqR46AlhNOM4dqI04qgsvHd4ecc1bCKi4e3ZSG0Jb7I0_IN6EVbEt9A_A56XfR0NdloKW6I8HgKpGMDYCw-iTS9ATkL0niFIzFZnVuPIHc35H74wwBaE-KlE3DU3Ug/s320/IMG_9224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I then drew up the concepts on paper, which is when more ideas
happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When drawing the cave, I saw opportunities
to sneak in other elements, like the bat and goblin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather than directly repeat the literary
treasures in each concept, I tried to come up with different ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I drew the chipmunk-like character
digging into the mountainside, I thought of Bilbo Baggins sneaking into the
dragon’s treasure chamber.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hence, my
more bookish version of the mighty Smaug.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcat8LORcaaxn__CZ3GaFYBNFSDHBZsGZHM-fiMC8Uiv30hmQ_RPjxtK0ek_11pGHydzfjT1hJvsOkKIaNWsFXHIhGm3yZI7ae9bkfWrd3wPteHMQFjwGYbenY6AWJZ3c49rgEmVBWd2-ixcg8Hz4cqhAj-LdvWjkr1KmxKdnJJ5GUkhJ_AIaHoshSQ/s838/IMG_9225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="838" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcat8LORcaaxn__CZ3GaFYBNFSDHBZsGZHM-fiMC8Uiv30hmQ_RPjxtK0ek_11pGHydzfjT1hJvsOkKIaNWsFXHIhGm3yZI7ae9bkfWrd3wPteHMQFjwGYbenY6AWJZ3c49rgEmVBWd2-ixcg8Hz4cqhAj-LdvWjkr1KmxKdnJJ5GUkhJ_AIaHoshSQ/s320/IMG_9225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">At this stage I was already planning to draw most of the
elements separately and assembling them digitally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would give me more flexibility to move
things around between the long rectangle and square formats, as well as making
room for more text and creating standalone images.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlBjYyprIBNGWrGok0rG201IOCH1ZyvJp1jdeXeXsOcZoggi3fIid9JqK52DdVHc607DFVmRlNB7OcxDGYEj6Q-jjAcJxoZd4pHO4aOy3cxpMs90vTl4c22DtXENDo5SaA7hdiU12Jq7kPrLQ86ZNNSklK5r3Pc6jb5GcgqO67SV3HTpGgUoieTYuzQ/s1200/3%20rough%20comps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="795" data-original-width="1200" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlBjYyprIBNGWrGok0rG201IOCH1ZyvJp1jdeXeXsOcZoggi3fIid9JqK52DdVHc607DFVmRlNB7OcxDGYEj6Q-jjAcJxoZd4pHO4aOy3cxpMs90vTl4c22DtXENDo5SaA7hdiU12Jq7kPrLQ86ZNNSklK5r3Pc6jb5GcgqO67SV3HTpGgUoieTYuzQ/s320/3%20rough%20comps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Next, part 3: feedback and more roughs.<o:p></o:p></p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-971265602362619282023-01-17T21:47:00.001-05:002023-01-17T22:31:59.758-05:00Creating the Illustration for the SCBWI Michigan 2023 Conference - Part 1: Brainstorming<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9BaynCRQ-A6ZeWNgxTy50dnJXCoHlxNK_7miaZDbLVA-9wRJ--XmeLauKmb8eF1QNsAqKpVEJFdEeylpwv88tLDRlwACWJdZNGSlho4otEaNTsBHGjULVmryBLMZidyfZ9Iba22Bi3ZjFOtwLqrSOvT5roTI4B4AeQ84dP3EWN0sqCT-jgM7xCzabQ/s680/Part%201%20concept%20to%20finish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9BaynCRQ-A6ZeWNgxTy50dnJXCoHlxNK_7miaZDbLVA-9wRJ--XmeLauKmb8eF1QNsAqKpVEJFdEeylpwv88tLDRlwACWJdZNGSlho4otEaNTsBHGjULVmryBLMZidyfZ9Iba22Bi3ZjFOtwLqrSOvT5roTI4B4AeQ84dP3EWN0sqCT-jgM7xCzabQ/s320/Part%201%20concept%20to%20finish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">In support of aspiring illustrators in SCBWI and everywhere,
I wanted to share my process for this fun illustration project for the </span><a href="https://michigan.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-mi-spring-conference-2023/" style="text-align: left;">SCBWI
Michigan</a><span style="text-align: left;"> 2023 conference.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">The
conference theme was “Digging Deeper: Unearthing Your Literary Treasures.”</span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were two size formats:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1080 x 1080 px</li><li>980 x 200 px</li></ul><!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(I was later allowed to make one at 980 x 500 px as well.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The illustration needed to allow room for text about the
conference and the SCBWI logo.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My first step was to brainstorm off the theme, which was a
visually rich one. I listed words and made
quick sketches, based on the words, digging and treasures. But I couldn’t forget the two adjectives
linked to them: deeper and literary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As you can see from the pictures, I dug into range of
sources from gold mines of the American West to dwarf mines of Middle Earth, and
Poldark’s copper mines of Cornwall, England.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is usually the fun part of an editorial illustration for me. I let words and images flow as quickly as I can get them down. As the project progresses new ideas pop up. So, brainstorming doesn't really stop. If I get stuck on a subject, I will consult a thesaurus for related words, browse my personal book collection, or search the internet. Or I might just need to a rest to let it marinate in the back of my mind, while doing other things.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvZvY5o6bwt7nBbH80LiE3Q6YJWeH0YUMUP_uHKhiFwAh6hBRhhlbXSJ2OR5JmLL74t3iVZ6eXbvusHhRxnoEWVJgl9299dvqgfHi-tVByTR2HuYiJS-7PC4b59svrT47Dzgt4MYLXOysg_TbV4XLeMWeYA5dZU2NxrB6grmWu8UygA965HtB0h3pvg/s3024/IMG_9220.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvZvY5o6bwt7nBbH80LiE3Q6YJWeH0YUMUP_uHKhiFwAh6hBRhhlbXSJ2OR5JmLL74t3iVZ6eXbvusHhRxnoEWVJgl9299dvqgfHi-tVByTR2HuYiJS-7PC4b59svrT47Dzgt4MYLXOysg_TbV4XLeMWeYA5dZU2NxrB6grmWu8UygA965HtB0h3pvg/s320/IMG_9220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSkR7ph5a2CQxa889jXgoCqrzc3p3cck4y7gJaSy6N0ReFAhJL-GZCXrGyxUCMOvpkvPklmcdws2s29sskSz-l_7nJfkENr3FApyvm4AVThyOPj9l2VZdlbs5909ryYZT_zBMbyddFuHid8kvoDqFMTY3mkzu7oqaib0d1S4K_Syl02zgM7Fk5MtW4w/s3024/IMG_9221.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSkR7ph5a2CQxa889jXgoCqrzc3p3cck4y7gJaSy6N0ReFAhJL-GZCXrGyxUCMOvpkvPklmcdws2s29sskSz-l_7nJfkENr3FApyvm4AVThyOPj9l2VZdlbs5909ryYZT_zBMbyddFuHid8kvoDqFMTY3mkzu7oqaib0d1S4K_Syl02zgM7Fk5MtW4w/s320/IMG_9221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV52x32CWuSiPmC94H0MIbQO8AdfnFeCycU6DUqlgG-yejtPeEoCDxVxEPINvSJlnbW0zE6WWeb_X3eEIX0l8_mheZLYm_qibfGUyUcpH2gbGxqe7ZA0C-O0xLhMt-HjceDUn4aDGNc0JIbi9iwGL6y-qcUGBVLvyuzTIBmP8boH7gLr4weyoh9e2pQ/s3024/IMG_9222.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCV52x32CWuSiPmC94H0MIbQO8AdfnFeCycU6DUqlgG-yejtPeEoCDxVxEPINvSJlnbW0zE6WWeb_X3eEIX0l8_mheZLYm_qibfGUyUcpH2gbGxqe7ZA0C-O0xLhMt-HjceDUn4aDGNc0JIbi9iwGL6y-qcUGBVLvyuzTIBmP8boH7gLr4weyoh9e2pQ/s320/IMG_9222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72jbwUR_Y9L5JOzKUFj30YxTUbRgccG2E5zu70pmKFCmhK8Xn-Oh8DN8jc2wLFSGfs53B8lVtrf2jC7L3Rmo4_yNaLoZX2d8fEvcVKRsSjdnr7EgN-zIJY91oa-JqeDCNnLSec6Tbmcg6TSjljykRKAX6uKwo1PwBeem3v4g-9J-AWGmVfQTO6_YDcQ/s3024/IMG_9223.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg72jbwUR_Y9L5JOzKUFj30YxTUbRgccG2E5zu70pmKFCmhK8Xn-Oh8DN8jc2wLFSGfs53B8lVtrf2jC7L3Rmo4_yNaLoZX2d8fEvcVKRsSjdnr7EgN-zIJY91oa-JqeDCNnLSec6Tbmcg6TSjljykRKAX6uKwo1PwBeem3v4g-9J-AWGmVfQTO6_YDcQ/s320/IMG_9223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">In part 2 I will show how I developed this ideas into three
rough layouts for my initial submission.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p></div><br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-91832187831905939972023-01-17T21:32:00.001-05:002023-01-17T21:32:18.736-05:00Illustration for the SCBWI Michigan 2023 Conference<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkb42jCCpgDIDhq-fvMPTzKo0EiwxBeMLIWhv7EIG_zBRfSoaVNNUc9SiOR3hcwEtSqkgnd27nAMEXGgAuXB8ZP5patj1OjAcS9arP36HbwS84u67_1qAwVZj_HaHzhBc0qNSWXhUoee1jsIXnxdsf4tiKsVVO0oponrNWb1muKWiokpRXdd3wRD0qA/s1080/cave%20illustration%20with%20SCBWI-MI%20text.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkb42jCCpgDIDhq-fvMPTzKo0EiwxBeMLIWhv7EIG_zBRfSoaVNNUc9SiOR3hcwEtSqkgnd27nAMEXGgAuXB8ZP5patj1OjAcS9arP36HbwS84u67_1qAwVZj_HaHzhBc0qNSWXhUoee1jsIXnxdsf4tiKsVVO0oponrNWb1muKWiokpRXdd3wRD0qA/s320/cave%20illustration%20with%20SCBWI-MI%20text.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I was honored to be asked by our <a href="https://michigan.scbwi.org/events/scbwi-mi-spring-conference-2023/">SCBWI
Michigan</a> chapter’s illustration coordinator, <a href="https://www.katieeberts.com/">Katie Eberts</a> (an accomplished
illustrator herself), to create an illustration for our 2023 conference. The conference theme was “Digging Deeper:
Unearthing Your Literary Treasures.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For those interested in attending the April 1, 2023 conference in Livonia, Michigan, here is the link to the conference page.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://michigan.scbwi.org/2023/01/11/digging-deeper-unearthing-your-literary-treasures-scbwi-mi-conference/">Michigan | Digging Deeper: Unearthing Your Literary Treasures SCBWI-MI Conference</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>This was fun project to work on. I will be creating blog posts on how I made illustration in support of aspiring SCBWI illustrators.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are the original illustrations without text and shown in all formats.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu4e24Y4gsnjv8zdIFLP_0ruG0P0icZX2iT0d_B-_nxBDt2EbndbUyE3oVZCB606QOdcVWXAewPxNKUCoA3s_Sa-mLMcnPQVfxKYQ8TMEcmII689qG-GsirN4MSWRubsTQZzvHbWPN6QA0YKEajy4bQaDnTzz91pOgUZvwIau9kd3BPoLixqEnCOyrQ/s1080/SCBWI-MI%20digging%20deeper%20cave%20pencil%20final%20art%201080x1080%2072dpi%20color5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu4e24Y4gsnjv8zdIFLP_0ruG0P0icZX2iT0d_B-_nxBDt2EbndbUyE3oVZCB606QOdcVWXAewPxNKUCoA3s_Sa-mLMcnPQVfxKYQ8TMEcmII689qG-GsirN4MSWRubsTQZzvHbWPN6QA0YKEajy4bQaDnTzz91pOgUZvwIau9kd3BPoLixqEnCOyrQ/s320/SCBWI-MI%20digging%20deeper%20cave%20pencil%20final%20art%201080x1080%2072dpi%20color5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tE2CpaN6Lry1_8zRAtLYBn0R_VtAqCwx77h-nq1dpZtnjZYUKZl8s4NlDIefjUW4evJHUgdget8uTigN9kvEJs7m7ZT1DeYXJlaMH8BDlZRdmOOM16dtxrtYErtrpxxlWNKqpy1RCyiy-HLbV4iSfH1gLY0MV9GJdhepA9GtcCZ5TP6kWdQ1gMLKGQ/s980/SCBWI-MI%20digging%20deeper%20cave%20pencil%20final%20art%20980x500%2072dpi%20color5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="980" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tE2CpaN6Lry1_8zRAtLYBn0R_VtAqCwx77h-nq1dpZtnjZYUKZl8s4NlDIefjUW4evJHUgdget8uTigN9kvEJs7m7ZT1DeYXJlaMH8BDlZRdmOOM16dtxrtYErtrpxxlWNKqpy1RCyiy-HLbV4iSfH1gLY0MV9GJdhepA9GtcCZ5TP6kWdQ1gMLKGQ/s320/SCBWI-MI%20digging%20deeper%20cave%20pencil%20final%20art%20980x500%2072dpi%20color5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tjRB8rImw5WanIS5kLTvSisok_eQhqdEY3999y75h_SUdgkuJ-FEFRAMh07enG4X-R5X386rJU3yjlu5I29DEOQpRuaABCIBxlS6mCQy940qjd-PyDRxAeOr4GGnIMyl3fH6hcjkvHubYU0Ik_Wdm783i_X0e6hra3BUlpdtBjcp0CQQdhPnSdhdjg/s980/SCBWI-MI%20digging%20deeper%20cave%20pencil%20final%20art%20980x200%2072dpi%20color5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="980" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6tjRB8rImw5WanIS5kLTvSisok_eQhqdEY3999y75h_SUdgkuJ-FEFRAMh07enG4X-R5X386rJU3yjlu5I29DEOQpRuaABCIBxlS6mCQy940qjd-PyDRxAeOr4GGnIMyl3fH6hcjkvHubYU0Ik_Wdm783i_X0e6hra3BUlpdtBjcp0CQQdhPnSdhdjg/s320/SCBWI-MI%20digging%20deeper%20cave%20pencil%20final%20art%20980x200%2072dpi%20color5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-63001808669032864582021-01-25T22:36:00.004-05:002021-01-25T22:55:58.307-05:00More about Mull & Cull #28 - Trust is a bridge we build together<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l730wzo3Yl-5DkjY7G7ldwXWpxEQDChVXAS6vqVO7fs0FWA10zdjhxLLpTPQc0mdcHFvfm-N6VwqGY2JTOnDdukoDl34ZaRYXSVB5eoCegyL19euOdqMYy6A1kq5ow_4G4dHXmqc5IMS/s800/Trust-Is-A-Bridge-We-Build-Together-Ken_Eaton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7l730wzo3Yl-5DkjY7G7ldwXWpxEQDChVXAS6vqVO7fs0FWA10zdjhxLLpTPQc0mdcHFvfm-N6VwqGY2JTOnDdukoDl34ZaRYXSVB5eoCegyL19euOdqMYy6A1kq5ow_4G4dHXmqc5IMS/s320/Trust-Is-A-Bridge-We-Build-Together-Ken_Eaton.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Can you spot the differences between the two pictures? See if you guessed correctly down below. <br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtpBvAbLq2B-dzZSZ8c9BFv83M8ldX2nqzSpUq01iK61O3ymUPi1ke6seQsfpEjY0q09EsECtkUUPy1lHT5_pWlHIpmdzVvlIXOUP6BYbUt_eRTGR0Eibd5TiGST730BlCBW-HVcXvkqC/s2048/Trust-Is-A-Bridge-We-Build-Together-Ken-Eaton-inked.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtpBvAbLq2B-dzZSZ8c9BFv83M8ldX2nqzSpUq01iK61O3ymUPi1ke6seQsfpEjY0q09EsECtkUUPy1lHT5_pWlHIpmdzVvlIXOUP6BYbUt_eRTGR0Eibd5TiGST730BlCBW-HVcXvkqC/s320/Trust-Is-A-Bridge-We-Build-Together-Ken-Eaton-inked.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I didn't want to ruin the message of my previous post on trust by talking about the artwork. So, I'll do so now. </p><p>Back around my last post in 2015, I decided to try my hand a writing a picture book. This endeavor has consumed most of my free creative time, resulting in a complete neglect of my blog. But the challenge has been worthwhile. I joined <a href="https://www.scbwi.org/" target="_blank">SCBWI </a>(Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), read several good blogs and books on writing and illustrating picture books, watched many YouTube posts, and wrote several manuscripts. I now have a two promising manuscripts and one book dummy completed. Once the other book dummy is complete, it's time to pursue an agent!</p><p>One of my stories deals with a troll and bridges. When I was researching trolls (yes, one can research trolls!), I came across the old story of the Three Billy-Goats Gruff. It's a very simple story about three goats crossing a bridge. The troll under the bridge wants to eat the goats, but he lets the first and second one pass with the promise that the next goat will be bigger and fatter for him to eat. The last goat is indeed big, and it does not end well for the troll. You can read the story <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/8933/8933-h/8933-h.htm#chap37" target="_blank">here </a>if you want.<br /></p><p>After the capitol riots on January 6th, I had been jotting down notes and sketches about trust, as it is something our country is in desperate need of. One of them was a bridge made of the letters in trust, as if they were children's alphabet blocks. I thought it would be nice to change the original story of the goats and the troll to one where they work together on making the bridge. Now the troll has a home under the bridge, and the goats can cross over it to feed in the mountain's fields. If goats and trolls can work together, surely people can as well! Right?</p><p>Well, one can only hope and do what they can.</p><p>Back to the art - I drew this on standard laser printer paper and inked it with Speedball Super Black India Ink, using a Windsor & Newton Cotman 111 #4 round brush. I was very pleased with this brush. It held its point well, and the ink flowed smoothly from it.</p><p>I scanned the line art into Photoshop to add the color and yellowed, pulp paper texture.</p><p>Many times I make minor corrections to my line art in Photoshop, and this was no exception. There are the few stray lines to clean up and I shifted the "IS A BRIDGE" text over to the left a bit. I also changed the big goat's eyes to be more of a squint as he lowers the block into place. </p><p>But my biggest fix was the troll. Did you notice his feet were visible in the original art? I lost sight of the troll's standing position relative to the bridge. His head and arms are at slightly under the bridge, but his feet appear to be out in front of it. It just didn't look right.</p><p>How did I spot this, you ask? If you follow the bridge's shadow down the hill to the water line, the troll's feet were well away from where the shadow would fall if the light is directly above him.</p><p> <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cKJf0i5CK0Aj8-NsDK1HkgIQ2buR9cuhH6T7qeB2qRGT6drDEPwqcpT7FAf7jTshyphenhyphenAoP8tANpMRSUn29IsrRg4ytfmnIA8QKfwLOIto3IMdQSMmeWNIS1lwEcTs1iHCfluE-KgGwe9Bz/s629/Troll-under-bridge-fix.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="567" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5cKJf0i5CK0Aj8-NsDK1HkgIQ2buR9cuhH6T7qeB2qRGT6drDEPwqcpT7FAf7jTshyphenhyphenAoP8tANpMRSUn29IsrRg4ytfmnIA8QKfwLOIto3IMdQSMmeWNIS1lwEcTs1iHCfluE-KgGwe9Bz/s320/Troll-under-bridge-fix.jpg" /></a></div>So, I erased the lower part of his legs and drew in more water ripples. Now you don't know if the water is very deep or if the troll has very short legs. Problem solved!<p></p><p>Most people would probably never notice these details, but I expect a good art director would. So, I try to be a good critic of my own work. If one is self aware, one can self improve. <br /></p><p><br /></p><p> <br /></p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-70890438667540874992021-01-25T20:51:00.005-05:002021-01-25T22:54:02.183-05:00Mull & Cull #28 - Trust is a bridge we build together<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAcRTIX8sVgPkdS7991evX8bzID4cNqlr_tbvdiqZO32HpFePUvz6jtRHqrNjDG3c5Fpde9ihS8o55uzi_No1Um4zuSozSZoTv2JeHArd0AWs0j48vyYHhm7vxA8NFJg5_hJhMGiq0vzC/s800/Trust-Is-A-Bridge-We-Build-Together-Ken_Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="538" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAcRTIX8sVgPkdS7991evX8bzID4cNqlr_tbvdiqZO32HpFePUvz6jtRHqrNjDG3c5Fpde9ihS8o55uzi_No1Um4zuSozSZoTv2JeHArd0AWs0j48vyYHhm7vxA8NFJg5_hJhMGiq0vzC/s320/Trust-Is-A-Bridge-We-Build-Together-Ken_Eaton.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p> </p><p>After recent events and what has been happening to our country over the past several years since my last post, I thought it was time to come out with something positive.</p><p>There is trust that you can build within yourself, but I am speaking to building trust between yourself and others. It is not easy. It takes time and patience. If you're not careful, the bridge of trust can be broken and burned, but if the foundations are firm, it can be rebuilt. </p><p>I hope the citizens of our country can remove themselves from their internet echo chambers that only resonate with their own viewpoints, real or misguided, and talk to someone from the other side in person, preferably on an ongoing basis.</p><p>Please consider building or rebuilding a bridge with someone today. <br /></p><p><br /></p>Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-64103467691268756472015-04-28T23:37:00.000-04:002015-04-30T23:57:24.941-04:00Mull & Cull #27 - Before you recline ask if your neighbor will be fine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B7kwAl1Qg3mWvxp9SKoe4XgUu-vn8jN7Z8CjBdyFAxfWqX4YhDYYXh6XQHz59qbrQRwlOoF4Rf8vIR7pHhaN_sVuSvg5tNpWHDMPkJDjlIak0tvgKTF79lsACMv8beujZQAlfv6XVcxA/s1600/Before-you-recline-ask-if-your-neighbor-will-be-fine-color-72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2B7kwAl1Qg3mWvxp9SKoe4XgUu-vn8jN7Z8CjBdyFAxfWqX4YhDYYXh6XQHz59qbrQRwlOoF4Rf8vIR7pHhaN_sVuSvg5tNpWHDMPkJDjlIak0tvgKTF79lsACMv8beujZQAlfv6XVcxA/s1600/Before-you-recline-ask-if-your-neighbor-will-be-fine-color-72dpi.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-17104859336360756772015-04-19T08:00:00.000-04:002015-04-28T23:36:02.522-04:00Mull & Cull #26 - Meetings of too long a duration cause fatigue and frustration!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgwSM89gyM0D2JMYym1pCKhPjW5Z2PMWeeyaQDjsLAj5cz9gPjCVrzuCSWFYz6ncg-CvIjGTVqvgbzpYMAgu-2AWOOP_llPuxfYbOwdPgE2bIwzCT1jZCeZTn-0iCyWqJZUBpSl7AwYvC/s1600/unfocused-meetings-of-too-long-a-duration-cause-fatigue-and-frustration-72dpi-color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgwSM89gyM0D2JMYym1pCKhPjW5Z2PMWeeyaQDjsLAj5cz9gPjCVrzuCSWFYz6ncg-CvIjGTVqvgbzpYMAgu-2AWOOP_llPuxfYbOwdPgE2bIwzCT1jZCeZTn-0iCyWqJZUBpSl7AwYvC/s1600/unfocused-meetings-of-too-long-a-duration-cause-fatigue-and-frustration-72dpi-color.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-7894157893583735922015-04-06T13:42:00.000-04:002015-05-03T23:47:02.339-04:00Mull & Cull #25 - When trusted with money don't tempt fate by tring to defalcate, which is not to be confused with def_cate.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9juY-_-hchTTYI12IgjYjFAOTe2se38jEtsZ7b1W5XOMkLmEibiQgHgs2ZWWe5FVAqQW8lK65IYGizJOu56GXHSyhZ1ijExsivhSR-tbbLHEuHtgDbVxNFpt0rEN2jXLxdtqc6vV2gM8/s1600/when-trusted-with-money-do-not-tempt-fate-trying-to-defalcate-not-defecate-cartoon-devils-toilet-72dpi-color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9juY-_-hchTTYI12IgjYjFAOTe2se38jEtsZ7b1W5XOMkLmEibiQgHgs2ZWWe5FVAqQW8lK65IYGizJOu56GXHSyhZ1ijExsivhSR-tbbLHEuHtgDbVxNFpt0rEN2jXLxdtqc6vV2gM8/s1600/when-trusted-with-money-do-not-tempt-fate-trying-to-defalcate-not-defecate-cartoon-devils-toilet-72dpi-color.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-58251545354678296242015-03-22T15:43:00.000-04:002015-05-03T21:24:12.629-04:00Mull & Cull #24 - If finding luck is what you hope, try widening your scope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUwgvDe1KB_q1glBQuJ5MrMuBmTLy0obwwUgpgZC5vxXcDwdLTrDK9EiWV90xbEj90FXr7SgJBsKefgtPxEoXs9bsnUMfh_U8ZXjiw2EsWSAWWRVJqBXdBMBLcEan_JeFznO9RdN-EYzc/s1600/If-finding-luck-is-what-you-hope-try-widening-your-scope-bug-four-leaf-clover-72dpi-color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUwgvDe1KB_q1glBQuJ5MrMuBmTLy0obwwUgpgZC5vxXcDwdLTrDK9EiWV90xbEj90FXr7SgJBsKefgtPxEoXs9bsnUMfh_U8ZXjiw2EsWSAWWRVJqBXdBMBLcEan_JeFznO9RdN-EYzc/s1600/If-finding-luck-is-what-you-hope-try-widening-your-scope-bug-four-leaf-clover-72dpi-color.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-14287788249539620752015-03-11T23:05:00.000-04:002015-04-19T00:04:23.836-04:00Mull & Cull #23 - What it is is just because. Forsaken now. It is a was.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5e8NsIXD7yrcDIh0nYxwsokOhK6EFLQe8MoNWdLl70QGUziwSTqS_mYbbLXWqLc7l_Nb23L5umKBsyzyR2TJABp9nre_4hL21opoS4nb6cu2JaHSkTPLTXGEt1Qp7GDU6fyRyM9irwNV/s1600/what-it-is-is-just-because-forsaken-now-it-is-a-was-72-dpi-color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5e8NsIXD7yrcDIh0nYxwsokOhK6EFLQe8MoNWdLl70QGUziwSTqS_mYbbLXWqLc7l_Nb23L5umKBsyzyR2TJABp9nre_4hL21opoS4nb6cu2JaHSkTPLTXGEt1Qp7GDU6fyRyM9irwNV/s1600/what-it-is-is-just-because-forsaken-now-it-is-a-was-72-dpi-color.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-86888371952323199342015-02-26T23:19:00.001-05:002015-04-19T00:05:08.846-04:00Mull & Cull #22 - Does the idea of writing to someone make you cry?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnvGyMqiexUM6G_DccDjME0Ysq88P0PbmdQxKsDdXsZzs8Annw08Bc3MzfhB2Yu-sp4MCpbvVpfXSyftYvSjCneBbmDCTChdhJ8ieCl7T4zJ9a8v7Ck26aE1fxIB7r5V3vHzdLLIp1nG4/s1600/does-writing-someone-make-you-cry-letter-writing-tips-owl-to-pussycat-color-72dpi2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnvGyMqiexUM6G_DccDjME0Ysq88P0PbmdQxKsDdXsZzs8Annw08Bc3MzfhB2Yu-sp4MCpbvVpfXSyftYvSjCneBbmDCTChdhJ8ieCl7T4zJ9a8v7Ck26aE1fxIB7r5V3vHzdLLIp1nG4/s1600/does-writing-someone-make-you-cry-letter-writing-tips-owl-to-pussycat-color-72dpi2.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-55527155026295942342015-02-18T23:43:00.002-05:002015-04-19T00:05:25.398-04:00Mull & Cull #21 - Tuck your "T" against your tummy to keep your shirt from looking frumpy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ2YacLj-ntrF0UZWLEjyrI2ji8UhWtvV3eYH_wKWMUnhS-ryArCEbxjYTs-xs__RnGHG-PIWe4NAOLyke4kyVPM4ucbeIKtVDE1nmBUNqGE0HJGj_AjQztyCN3iXdkHmrx4iAIxuK9X7/s1600/Tuck-your-T-against-your-tummy-to-keep-your-shirt-from-looking-frumpy-color-72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ2YacLj-ntrF0UZWLEjyrI2ji8UhWtvV3eYH_wKWMUnhS-ryArCEbxjYTs-xs__RnGHG-PIWe4NAOLyke4kyVPM4ucbeIKtVDE1nmBUNqGE0HJGj_AjQztyCN3iXdkHmrx4iAIxuK9X7/s1600/Tuck-your-T-against-your-tummy-to-keep-your-shirt-from-looking-frumpy-color-72dpi.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
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This technique does work. For more details on how to keep your shirt tucked properly check out <a href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/2014/04/15/how-tuck-in-shirt/" target="_blank">this</a> article from the "Art of Manliness" blog that inspired this cartoon.Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-36258880137695385552015-02-12T23:06:00.001-05:002015-04-19T00:05:44.016-04:00Mull & Cull #20 - Cough and sneeze into your arm to prevent others from harm<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVu6aFZL2D7YcgSR9qw6GvoPNkfbM_IAwqDfaRZakzkYrbIIVQjj7qAVA-7vV54sYB6Y6mc7-86WRm4SkjLef_1zQkOhBZQO4spMRFSKOGzj8BKrxH6CiAAWqy8iGJsYEvbNST-tqQUi0/s1600/cough-and-sneeze-into-your-arm-to-prevent-others-from-harm-color-72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVu6aFZL2D7YcgSR9qw6GvoPNkfbM_IAwqDfaRZakzkYrbIIVQjj7qAVA-7vV54sYB6Y6mc7-86WRm4SkjLef_1zQkOhBZQO4spMRFSKOGzj8BKrxH6CiAAWqy8iGJsYEvbNST-tqQUi0/s1600/cough-and-sneeze-into-your-arm-to-prevent-others-from-harm-color-72dpi.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-212823803293962932015-01-28T22:53:00.000-05:002015-04-19T00:06:00.773-04:00Mull & Cull #19 - When faced with something scary and new go forth bravely ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam8vF6lgGJ-Os_cZn8FeMdrO_8CFN06Sd3S4tgJZzJ18xj1xHbYiYe0uYnjHG1Rkw3blgbsAnZjlMLanjGtg78LaMm-0YIz0Whex6hV4Ukcb5BkAQwKotXTvfDTnONsivCeGCUHg_Sf_Y/s1600/When-faced-with-something-scary-and-new-go-forth-bravely-72dpi-color2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiam8vF6lgGJ-Os_cZn8FeMdrO_8CFN06Sd3S4tgJZzJ18xj1xHbYiYe0uYnjHG1Rkw3blgbsAnZjlMLanjGtg78LaMm-0YIz0Whex6hV4Ukcb5BkAQwKotXTvfDTnONsivCeGCUHg_Sf_Y/s1600/When-faced-with-something-scary-and-new-go-forth-bravely-72dpi-color2.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-56562669940199390642014-06-15T12:27:00.001-04:002015-05-03T21:26:50.346-04:00Mull & Cull #18 - Be sane. Don't judge a hurricane by its name.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp-u1bTvIJbVq3ydobF2y1RnZUbWw4D_fk9idhGv57ULKsMt2QVXTG0d4aKTRpuxHSCZ7rd476COUK3VbyC9NHsr012TLrsxGIWeF7uVJjxFbV4tc70kEe9fedl_O8kSjCXjp19RcKHny/s1600/Be-sane-Dont-judge-a-hurricane-by-its-name-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-illustration-72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp-u1bTvIJbVq3ydobF2y1RnZUbWw4D_fk9idhGv57ULKsMt2QVXTG0d4aKTRpuxHSCZ7rd476COUK3VbyC9NHsr012TLrsxGIWeF7uVJjxFbV4tc70kEe9fedl_O8kSjCXjp19RcKHny/s1600/Be-sane-Dont-judge-a-hurricane-by-its-name-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-illustration-72dpi.jpg" height="320" width="264" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"What's in a name? that which we call a rose<br />
By any other name would smell as sweet" </blockquote>
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~ <i>William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"</i></blockquote>
We should apply Shakespeare's line to hurricanes as well. NPR's Morning Edition had an interesting <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/06/03/318414845/research-americans-less-fearful-of-storms-with-female-names" target="_blank">story</a> about how people respond differently to hurricanes with more feminine names. There are actually few stories posted on their website. Here are a few links.<br />
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<a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/02/19/279709440/what-is-the-psychological-effect-of-naming-storms" target="_blank">What Is The Psychological Effect Of Naming Storms?</a><br />
<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2014/06/03/318458538/do-female-named-hurricanes-need-to-lean-in" target="_blank">Do Female-Named Hurricanes Need To Lean In?</a><br />
Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-61642777376925645082014-06-03T18:37:00.000-04:002014-06-03T18:41:14.724-04:00Make your bed daily and change the world!<div style="text-align: left;">
While driving into work this morning and listening to the CBC the host referenced a quote from a U.S. Navy admiral given at a commencement speech at the University of Texas.</div>
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"If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first
task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will
encourage you to do another task and another and another."</blockquote>
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~ <i>Naval Adm. William H. McRaven, ninth commander of U.S. Special Operations Command</i> </blockquote>
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Having recently posted a "Words to Mull & Cull" cartoon on this topic back in May it sparked my curosity.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkiuU9yCVRe2zT46rvl9rWPZHdFmdHb3VJ8JtDLVF1Z3_nrxPW4kTnzze4Dzylt2e6q9FMZmaEnXwztmt8LjfNkV-YSKiBQ1eUNDzsVX6qJQcS_OPIvCJmjC_reeM73PJuNX7LjJg3u3c/s1600/Daily-make-your-bed-nice-and-tidy-for-a-cosy-haven-nightly-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkiuU9yCVRe2zT46rvl9rWPZHdFmdHb3VJ8JtDLVF1Z3_nrxPW4kTnzze4Dzylt2e6q9FMZmaEnXwztmt8LjfNkV-YSKiBQ1eUNDzsVX6qJQcS_OPIvCJmjC_reeM73PJuNX7LjJg3u3c/s1600/Daily-make-your-bed-nice-and-tidy-for-a-cosy-haven-nightly-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-72dpi.jpg" height="320" width="259" /> </a></div>
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I looked up Admiral McRaven's speech and was surprised how many posts came up about it. When I read his full speech <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/news/2014/05/16/admiral-mcraven-commencement-speech/" target="_blank">here</a> I can better understand why. I don't think many people would expect a four star Navy Admiral and SEAL to lead off a speech on how to change the world by leading off with the importance of making your bed.</div>
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If you would like to know how to make your bed the military way, <a href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/2009/11/19/how-to-make-a-bed-you-can-bounce-a-quarter-off-of/" target="_blank">here</a> is a great post from one of my new favorite sites, "<a href="http://www.artofmanliness.com/" target="_blank">The Art of Manliness</a>". </div>
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Of course the military bed is a minimalist one. For some making their bed can be a very large accomplishment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-px1sl-tq9HvWx0rVmbNsNSqe87M4K8U4MGvOrSDXOoTOqAYakbpjMOtHbw9hZZcK5-DmoLRpBbVu3Gn5d8xQymhkaNyZaKVAJAXjtALY0TI25v_OlTrnBgmWBYh-3Ii5eiheiDi-TQc/s1600/make-bed-cartoon-huge-bed-several-pillows-dog-Ken-Eaton-Illustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-px1sl-tq9HvWx0rVmbNsNSqe87M4K8U4MGvOrSDXOoTOqAYakbpjMOtHbw9hZZcK5-DmoLRpBbVu3Gn5d8xQymhkaNyZaKVAJAXjtALY0TI25v_OlTrnBgmWBYh-3Ii5eiheiDi-TQc/s1600/make-bed-cartoon-huge-bed-several-pillows-dog-Ken-Eaton-Illustration.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is a bit more from his speech:</div>
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"Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter.</div>
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If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.</blockquote>
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And, if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a
bed that is made—that you made—and a made bed gives you encouragement
that tomorrow will be better."</blockquote>
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Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-84842420006088906452014-05-28T23:24:00.000-04:002014-05-28T23:28:43.639-04:00Chinchilla Mascot Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr-qsuI7DmTVhZs-45bKuSHcp3Mfetf54cb4MLWjav1EblWqdnx1rvDBQCnfXtnGW_q1pZ0w1qM0uf9xuIHCDIFQA1R7jYykB-pMTVHm5xBu3st2LKxTDzYW2GMVkoPzeESLhYlqV9pnz/s1600/chinchilla-with-book-glasses-Ken-Eaton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr-qsuI7DmTVhZs-45bKuSHcp3Mfetf54cb4MLWjav1EblWqdnx1rvDBQCnfXtnGW_q1pZ0w1qM0uf9xuIHCDIFQA1R7jYykB-pMTVHm5xBu3st2LKxTDzYW2GMVkoPzeESLhYlqV9pnz/s1600/chinchilla-with-book-glasses-Ken-Eaton.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></a>
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This little guy was made for a client back in 2012 to represent a new on-line book publishing service, which unfortunately has not seen the light of day yet. They do own the copyrights to him, so please don't borrow him for your own purposes. They also requested a "mobile" version of him, hence the car.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAC2-biYXQPwJG3uVgJVKEUvMNditEwjLvlzaHFZQ3-iX16V_uHu6qzSnRTN50YQhPDCDJEBTifYC7DW5EQnCq1xtQFZL5exPN0pGv2r8DKeKbGHgBrI8wloutfMWmGgWudMEsljba6pU/s1600/chinchilla-in-car-with-book-glasses-Ken-Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAC2-biYXQPwJG3uVgJVKEUvMNditEwjLvlzaHFZQ3-iX16V_uHu6qzSnRTN50YQhPDCDJEBTifYC7DW5EQnCq1xtQFZL5exPN0pGv2r8DKeKbGHgBrI8wloutfMWmGgWudMEsljba6pU/s1600/chinchilla-in-car-with-book-glasses-Ken-Eaton.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></div>
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The client had a very specific reference image made by <span class="aboutme-realname">Becky Dreistadt</span>, which you can see <a href="http://pocketowl.deviantart.com/art/Chinchilla-304413064">here</a>. She turned down my client's request to purchase the rights to her image, so they turned to me. I wanted to use as little of her artwork as possible to avoid copyright infringements, so I offered the client several alternatives. The chinchilla is a very cute animal, but it's practically a caricature itself, being a large, obese mouse with a bushy tail. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7K6SvFplLLIVStD5DUiBGPu738tAiOIim7CK5o4tNjFhfgjocj3DUVe6GeNK5stkZgqflYcg2Z1KUzW3z7gqmbFjqGUg4bkLUNcW-FPWiqjMTUk1nTh1FXBSpZMKP5J_theGsFKB3ohT/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-1-Ken-Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7K6SvFplLLIVStD5DUiBGPu738tAiOIim7CK5o4tNjFhfgjocj3DUVe6GeNK5stkZgqflYcg2Z1KUzW3z7gqmbFjqGUg4bkLUNcW-FPWiqjMTUk1nTh1FXBSpZMKP5J_theGsFKB3ohT/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-1-Ken-Eaton.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9mB7mZ01QwavL1GB-G-rzHy-uOpv7NYTmQb_M2RQIleg4trGYA6I95Pu64LvlZAfqXgcqwusu_AxnPO9MFcYCcjYQGfmfhtGj_bSzTiHn4x0hlmPa2U9JO3V-c8_nshqOpCb2LnIWKgr/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-2-Ken-Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9mB7mZ01QwavL1GB-G-rzHy-uOpv7NYTmQb_M2RQIleg4trGYA6I95Pu64LvlZAfqXgcqwusu_AxnPO9MFcYCcjYQGfmfhtGj_bSzTiHn4x0hlmPa2U9JO3V-c8_nshqOpCb2LnIWKgr/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-2-Ken-Eaton.jpg" height="267" width="320" /></a></div>
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In this set I was trying to give a sense of color printing with the multiple colored tails.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUOEs5XqMvVcMHOWhBlMY7DpnRljD_J-NwlYyw77unQ4Gtgftxsy19Ei8yCVZhSUw8lwBbvmmvhBjdFLJf7PMi0gbdGgnO6Ih2-DWJwCT5tubmZHhTFzNEFmuMXfr38Kwl-iHqXSSFdeH/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-3-Ken-Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUOEs5XqMvVcMHOWhBlMY7DpnRljD_J-NwlYyw77unQ4Gtgftxsy19Ei8yCVZhSUw8lwBbvmmvhBjdFLJf7PMi0gbdGgnO6Ih2-DWJwCT5tubmZHhTFzNEFmuMXfr38Kwl-iHqXSSFdeH/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-3-Ken-Eaton.jpg" height="269" width="320" /></a></div>
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Despite my efforts the client really liked the original gray color scheme. At least I got in a hipster, slouchy stocking cap and rimmed glasses.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeyP4Pf1DD1BxRitpQbIohCCe6DqpJbvWgh4tw5hijilMFCEWSG1ovnUuMON0Yu5wgjRRyZmR8Q4IefdXRy51zD4o4nHDUD0xMfjt5OEavcMm-IA4uzxY-bVPgo-re40qgEIp5dVznDWj/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-4-Ken-Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYeyP4Pf1DD1BxRitpQbIohCCe6DqpJbvWgh4tw5hijilMFCEWSG1ovnUuMON0Yu5wgjRRyZmR8Q4IefdXRy51zD4o4nHDUD0xMfjt5OEavcMm-IA4uzxY-bVPgo-re40qgEIp5dVznDWj/s1600/chinchilla-mascot-sketches-set-4-Ken-Eaton.jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTr-qsuI7DmTVhZs-45bKuSHcp3Mfetf54cb4MLWjav1EblWqdnx1rvDBQCnfXtnGW_q1pZ0w1qM0uf9xuIHCDIFQA1R7jYykB-pMTVHm5xBu3st2LKxTDzYW2GMVkoPzeESLhYlqV9pnz/s1600/chinchilla-with-book-glasses-Ken-Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-43957958380319623152014-05-14T22:47:00.001-04:002015-04-19T00:06:52.696-04:00Mull & Cull #17 - Hold on to your anger if you must, but if too long, you'll combust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhfleA5F3-3Y-NPDOS0Osa4GtWpxpRuRVJ3LAGLD1yYaTmXjEbz8oxLdiC54yYKosoLB6xkF1jzdfQ_4SqGtpREKHM0mcyMq5PJb95WlyQlaFFS8jPl7AMc38m6t747KI9HhEjuf1PDkF/s1600/Hold-on-to-your-anger-if-you-must-but-if-too-long-you-will-combust-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-72-dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhfleA5F3-3Y-NPDOS0Osa4GtWpxpRuRVJ3LAGLD1yYaTmXjEbz8oxLdiC54yYKosoLB6xkF1jzdfQ_4SqGtpREKHM0mcyMq5PJb95WlyQlaFFS8jPl7AMc38m6t747KI9HhEjuf1PDkF/s1600/Hold-on-to-your-anger-if-you-must-but-if-too-long-you-will-combust-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-72-dpi.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-61362487195769395322014-05-07T07:00:00.000-04:002014-05-20T23:55:19.619-04:00The Arctic Shark and Quilt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMPnFA_1NFQGiah8TGZvlzDEfs4XbjZUCESc2_iSmEv3OpyaiQ52v_iDJFIFtyFFDI0MqKiMwQ7w7-TLQZi5AKfVvMLXweOZhbLNKCxRwxxVD9HY362dMgGnSzzEXMj6sjp1lI3KX7rsU/s1600/Quilt-music-band-with-Greenland-Arctic-Shark-cartoon-Ken-Eaton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiMPnFA_1NFQGiah8TGZvlzDEfs4XbjZUCESc2_iSmEv3OpyaiQ52v_iDJFIFtyFFDI0MqKiMwQ7w7-TLQZi5AKfVvMLXweOZhbLNKCxRwxxVD9HY362dMgGnSzzEXMj6sjp1lI3KX7rsU/s1600/Quilt-music-band-with-Greenland-Arctic-Shark-cartoon-Ken-Eaton.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>"The arctic shark is living free in the coldest part of the Eastern Sea." </i></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
~ Lyric from the song, "Arctic Shark" by the band, <a href="http://quiltmusic.bandcamp.com/">Quilt</a></blockquote>
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I discovered the band, Quilt, at <a href="http://npr.org/">npr.org</a>. Their featured song, "Arctic Shark", is a fantastic, trippy little tune that reminded me of my own dazed and confused Greenland (Arctic) shark character, who was part of my, "Arctic Circle" comic strip.<br />
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Back in the late 1990's and early 2000's I was obsessed by all things arctic as I worked on my comic strip submissions. An issue of National Geographic featured the Greenland shark on the cover. It grows up to 16 feet long (or longer!), is slow moving and nearly blind due to a parasite that lives on its eyes. Maybe it makes up for blindness by having very large nostrils. It's meat is poisonous if not prepared properly and will cause drunken behavior in dogs if they eat it raw. Because of it's slow speed it is believed to be primarily a scavenger, but when a diver presented it with some food it sucked it in like a vacuum!<br />
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When I started sketching its fuzzy eyes and huge nostrils he just looked stoned! I immediately associated him with famous movie stoners like Spicoli, from "Fast Times at Ridgemount High", Bill and Ted from their Excellent Adventure and The Dude, from "The Big Lebowski". Instead of using lightening speed and ferocity to hunt, which is typically associated with sharks, he would use the stoner-surfer logic to convince his prey to willingly be eaten. "Dude it's all part of big cosmic circle of life! It's your karma!" - that type of thing.<br />
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Like many of my characters I could never come up with a good name for him. How about Bogart?<br />
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Oh, and go listen to <a href="http://quiltmusic.bandcamp.com/">Quilt</a>!<br />
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For more facts and pictures of this unusual creature check out <a href="http://www.geerg.ca/">GEERG</a>. Great name!<br />
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Can you spot him in this one?<br />
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-79033492438138310772014-05-05T20:34:00.002-04:002014-05-05T20:34:45.270-04:00Sequencher DNA Software Ad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAtCkgbRebEWeAAFTwBKAzKf3wvlNJYuX6CuHactV6OrweyqEOOzFrwqnYYYlwPBIYhFno5zHHo6hPdK3GKvNSvi9vZnuzz4ejLHqBiMS_sWTpqqAvHKm0q_0tDUPTu4DDqa3VgXC36I0/s1600/skier+Banner_15_off+sequencher-void.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAtCkgbRebEWeAAFTwBKAzKf3wvlNJYuX6CuHactV6OrweyqEOOzFrwqnYYYlwPBIYhFno5zHHo6hPdK3GKvNSvi9vZnuzz4ejLHqBiMS_sWTpqqAvHKm0q_0tDUPTu4DDqa3VgXC36I0/s1600/skier+Banner_15_off+sequencher-void.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here I was hired by <a href="http://www.globaldnet.com/#/About_Global_Design">Global Design</a> to illustrate a skiing scientist with a trail of DNA behind him for an ad promoting <a href="http://www.genecodes.com/">Sequencher</a>, a DNA sequencing software. I was given the sun rays and mountains to work with. The spray of G's, T's, A's and C's were influenced by their previous ad and are abbreviations of the nucleotides. I had the idea of making them large rocks atop the mountains but was asked to use a GC GC sequence. Perhaps you can tell me the significance. :)Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-86196170177990567082014-04-03T22:31:00.003-04:002015-05-03T21:31:48.835-04:00Mull & Cull #16 - Daily make your bed nice and tidy for a cozy haven nightly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QU0y9X66TxpjvRmZZWs2TL3C_DQQTig3EO_e1CJH-qQTfJ3A21AxWfHpq1HZR25X7EPWnZXeupAEEm3YiLJBea7Bukae62cLk35HJ49Hl3BltWA_SL5U53bwiby2C6PWeaCIVAVo6P3d/s1600/Daily-make-your-bed-nice-and-tidy-for-a-cosy-haven-nightly-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-72dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QU0y9X66TxpjvRmZZWs2TL3C_DQQTig3EO_e1CJH-qQTfJ3A21AxWfHpq1HZR25X7EPWnZXeupAEEm3YiLJBea7Bukae62cLk35HJ49Hl3BltWA_SL5U53bwiby2C6PWeaCIVAVo6P3d/s1600/Daily-make-your-bed-nice-and-tidy-for-a-cosy-haven-nightly-cartoon-Ken-Eaton-72dpi.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></div>
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The cartoon below was drawn in ArtRage. I redrew it with a brush pen above, which was much more satisfying and colored it to fit with the rest. Now to my haven! </div>
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-22444423316236946012014-03-25T23:20:00.000-04:002015-04-22T12:06:02.770-04:00Mull & Cull #15 - Cooking is more fun when you don an apron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasLGfTbz2ElsomLzVRRmqG8PXaknWKednZoF7z44UnJezwR4Tt9dVYEndmS164z7n0AVOdd8gdUFmwPkqUxAw7jm2zwR8A5TAqOj21kC8hXgOVwCYpEM3o54orwiwoCBulHlGOfn1z3B3/s1600/cooking-is-more-fun-when-you-don-an-apron-72dpi-color.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasLGfTbz2ElsomLzVRRmqG8PXaknWKednZoF7z44UnJezwR4Tt9dVYEndmS164z7n0AVOdd8gdUFmwPkqUxAw7jm2zwR8A5TAqOj21kC8hXgOVwCYpEM3o54orwiwoCBulHlGOfn1z3B3/s1600/cooking-is-more-fun-when-you-don-an-apron-72dpi-color.jpg" height="320" width="261" /></a></div>
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I'm not afraid to admit that I like to put on an apron when I cook. It's my uniform stating I am in control of my kitchen. When it comes off it's time to eat!<br />
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Please note the "claw" hold the bear is using to cut the carrot to prevent cutting fingers. Here are some tips.<br />
<a href="http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/knifeskills/ss/knifegrips_3.htm">http://culinaryarts.about.com/od/knifeskills/ss/knifegrips_3.htm </a><br />
<a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Chop-Food-Like-a-Pro">http://www.wikihow.com/Chop-Food-Like-a-Pro</a><br />
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Also of note this was my first Words to Mull & Cull using a Pentel brush pen instead of a natural hair brush and India ink, which allowed me to ink it on my lunch hour. I enjoy sketching with the brush pen but always felt it was a little finicky compared to a traditional brush and avoided doing "final" work with it. At the end of the day it really looks about the same.<br />
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I picked up several brushes at Target last year where I found them on a clearance rack, but you can find them easily on-line. Here is Pentel link. The color brush is what I use. I haven't tried the official brush pen and can't speak to the difference.<br />
<a href="http://www.pentel.com/store/color-brushtm-pigment-ink">http://www.pentel.com/store/color-brushtm-pigment-ink </a><br />
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This was my first sketch that was going nowhere. Apron. Check. Stocked kitchen. Check. Fun? Not so much. <br />
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-43422534459452337502014-03-20T22:51:00.000-04:002014-03-20T22:51:47.558-04:00Gall bladder removal card<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I enjoy making cards for family and friends and try to do it when I can. They're a fun challenge (most of the time) to make rather than slogging through stores for the right card. I have been hesitant to post them because I've looked at them as a gift unique to the person I sent it to, but a lot of time has passed with most of them. Maybe someone will find them inspiring.<br />
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In this case a family member was having his gall bladder taken out. It was a good organ gone bad. Who'll join the liver, pancreas and stomach? One of the kidney twins? The gloved hand would have come off better with the fingers facing out.<br />
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I thought about making a line of cards to dealing with serious illnesses and operations but never followed through. Why not a card specific for a heart bypass or brain surgery?Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1163593888955505608.post-36613728736319414972014-03-18T00:18:00.000-04:002015-04-22T12:07:24.777-04:00Mull & Cull #14 - Are you trapped? Find a screen to look through rather than at<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know people at work with that many devices and monitors. ML and I use my porch nearly every weekend in the warmer months to enjoy a dinner and the fruits of our garden and landscaping efforts free of bugs and intense sun. There are always birds taking a break in the pond. In the mornings chipmunks stake out their territory with chirps. Hopefully you can find a window that at least has a view of the sky or a patch of green wherever you're at. I'm fortunate to have cubicle at work that looks out at a marsh and trees that are just beyond the parking lot.<br />
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<br />Kenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15706660706844877504noreply@blogger.com0