As promised here are some more photos of the foam core toy shelf I've been working on. It's still not totally complete but getting there.
Here I have finished cutting the front and inserted a string of holiday lights. The lights may be replaced with a light rope like you would see lining the steps in a movie theater.
Another Figure test
And here it is in the basement.
Sorry for the blur on that last photo, but as I said the basement has some pretty terrible lighting. You can also see that I've started to fill up the space with other toys. Soon that whole wall will be filled to the brim with awesome sauce. I'm also thinking about replacing actual shelf part of the foam core with glass. I'm not sure how well it would hold up though.
I've been doing stuff. Stuff that I've been putting off for far too long. This includes both creative projects and home projects. My wife mentioned that I seem to have more drive these past few weeks and because of that I seem to be in a better mood. This all relates to my previous post.
So what exactly have I been doing? Well first off, I've been drawing at night. Here are some sketches which were produced recently. Please forgive the second scan. I was drawing with a blue pencil which my scanner doesn't like.
Both images relate to ideas that have sat in my head for a great many years. If things keep up the way they have been going, these may eventually become more than just ideas.
Secondly I've been thinking a lot about what makes me happy. I used to be a toy collector and amassed a decent sized collection.... all of which sits in plastic bins in a storage room in my basement. That just seems wrong and pointless to me. Now I have a fairly nice finished basement, which is typically used to hide things when we have company coming over. It could easily be turned into a "man cave." Seeing as I am not a typical man, I'd rather turn it into a nerd cave.
There are a few things I need for this to happen.
1. Better lighting
2. Poster Frames
3. Shelves
And because I'm all sorts of backwards, I began working on shelves this weekend. I was inspired by this. I can just hear the other geeks out there, "Whoa, I want one of those!" Me too friends, me too. I however don't have that sort of disposable income. What is a guy to do then? I'm not handy enough, nor do I own any woodworking tools. If I could afford woodworking tools, well I could probably afford to just buy the cabinet.
Those sorts of thoughts are all the negatives that I'm used to taking up room in my head. I decided to approach the problem not from my usual what I can't do frame of reference, but from a would could I actually do to make something happen. By the time the weekend hit I had a plan which just might work, though the wife looked at me pretty strange when I tried to explain it.
The idea was a foam core cabinet for my figures. I won't bore you with the details of me struggling with math to figure out how much board I needed from the local hobby store, but instead give you some pictures of the project in process.
First Cut
Here we see all the pieces cut and sorted into piles.
(The secret to cutting foam core is a very sharp exacto blade and cutting once.)
Assembly begins! Getting closer There is the basic self with some Super Powers figures for scale.
I still have to make the front facade and decide if I'm going to string some lights on the inside so it's easier to see the actual figures. You'll recall from earlier in this post lighting is a problem in the basement. Thoughts: It's not perfect, but it will definitely serve it's purpose. Using a hot glue gun can be very tricky as the glue dries so quickly. If I were to do this again (which I may) I would make the shelves a little shallower. All in all I feel rather accomplished. I'll post a picture of the complete piece as soon as it's done.
Here I am about to write a post about how my brain keeps me from achieving or even attempting to achieve and already it has gone into panic mode. "You're an art guy, not a word guy. You shouldn't try to cross over. Someone already wrote about this much better anyway. It's not like anyone ever reads this blog anyway." I am faced with thoughts like this almost every day whether I am trying to create something or just going over to a friends house for a party. I even get nervous when I order pizza. The reason I am plugging on is that I now have a name for this enemy, the Lizard Brain.
Wil Wheaton posted a link over on his blog which I will re-post here. It contains an interview with Seth Godin and a video of same man giving a speech. In both he discusses the primitive part of our brain that protects us from things like sabertooth tiger attacks. After listening and watching I have come to the realization that this part of my brain, the Lizard Brain, has had a strangle hold over me for most of my life.
So what you say? (Or is that my brain just telling me that the above writings well be met with skepticism.) Well I now have a certain understanding of what is going on in my head. With this knowledge, I hope to learn to work around the Lizard and actually start creating.... well rather "shipping" things. This blog post is the first step in that direction.
I intend to start using this blog as a means of getting comfortable with putting thoughts and ideas out for the world to consume. These exercises will hopefully lead to greater things. Only time will tell if this is just momentary inspiration or the moment of true change.
Recently my friend invited me to start a comic column with the National Library's monthly magazine, "GOlibrary". I decided to do some comic for 2 of e characters I created while I was still in film school (donkey years ago...).
rainboy & rainbow pig {^_^} Here are some images & sketches, I'll post more as & when:
Of all the sketches I did, this is e one tat really brings out how I wanted rainboy to be. Cute, mischiefious, but still a little "gong, gong" (dumb) kinda feel . A mischiefious tomboy & a Silly goose sometimes.
I'll post some of "rainboy" initial design from my school days in my later post.
Other than rainbow pig, her e other best friend is Robo (his Chinese name is “Luobo” 萝卜 which means carrot)
Since robo does not have eyebrow so I use his glasses as a replacement to show e movements of 'em
Oh btw, I made an appearance in rainboy's #1 comic strip... as myself :p
I'll post sketches of rainboy & gang in this blog, for her comic you can go to her blog. Yap she has her own blog as well {^v^}: rainboy's blog
I'll upload her new comic & sketches every week... plus & minus :p Hope u guys like rainboy & her 'lil gang "\{6_~} C & C always welcome!
Here are a bunch of mini paintings which I've done over the past few months. They are all roughly 4" x 4" and done on illustration board. "Hi" was done in acrylic paint while "Sub" and "The Bird Exclaimed" were done in gouache. I am trying to teach myself how to use gouache. It really is a very different medium than watercolor or acrylic. It almost feels more like oils, but not really. I plan to do more of these in the future and as I get more comfortable with the medium maybe I'll start working bigger. With all of these pieces there is no pre-sketching. I'm just throwing paint down and seeing where it takes me.
So being the slacker that I am, I missed the deadline to submit to the Wolverine Look Sharp contest over at Project Rooftop. Seeing as I finished the piece and I don't hate it, I thought I would post it here. The idea that Logan runs around in a "super suit" and wears a mask seems a little weird to me. Is his identity a secret anymore? Wearing war paint on the other hand seems right up the ally of the feral Canadian. I used Weapon Alpha's (Vindicator, Guardian, etc.) look as a jumping off point. I did the piece in brush and ink and colored it in watercolor. Enjoy.
I don't know if any of you have seen this or not, but there is a currently little game going around the social networking sites on creating random CD covers using wikipedia, quotes and flickr. I found doing them to be highly entertaining and a good way to warm up the brain for the day. So here are some of my results.
Seems I can’t upload any pics. It’s a jpg. It’s not very big. Looks like it is going to upload. Then nothing.
????? - Kirk
Lets try this. OK, did not work.
In the mean time, try going here and I will post to my other blog site. Kirk’s Blog or paste the following into you browser window: http://kirkwescom.blogspot.com/
so I made my way back again. Well I'm posting something at least. I looked through the images on the board today and was sadly excited by what I saw. Awesome work very nice paint and pencil work.... I opened my sketch book the other day, and did some doodles... actually it was my second time in the last month or so. Not much finished work coming out of my 20-30 minutes of actual drawing this last month.. :P
I have also set a dead line for myself to update my website by the end of the year, if I can't even do that then I have decided I should not renew it come January.... But again not how I said should... I should be saying WILL but it appears I have very little of that magic WILL.
Hi kids!
I've been doing a lot of model drawing lately. But my computer is down again so I can't scan as much as I would like to. I got to be sneaky at work since they don't let us send files through e-mail for fear of breaking the non-disclosure deely. I understand but it's a bit of a drag. Anywho, here are some scans from 2 weeks ago.
Let me know what you think and I will post more often.
FYI, I will probably open a newer blog soon. I've evolved beyond this one. It's got too much bad memories in it and I need to make time to start a new one. I'll keep you posted.
These are all newsprint and conté. Stupid stick got in the way...
He looks sick here... Spooky. I will take my brandy in the study, Jeeves.
I've had it rough.
I have been trying to cope with my head going all over the place but it's not easy.
I have a bunch of cool art at work but I ain't allowed to show you guys what the dillio because of all the corporate bullcrap we have to sin when they hire us.
My 3rd book illustration work is out now. I think the graphic artist messed the front page, but whatever.
It's the story of a humming bird who has a feather in its eye. I had other ideas for the cover, but they really wanted the cat and the bird and the feather so you gotta do what you gotta do. I am including the artwork and the book image so you can see the difference.
Feeeeeeee!!See how the letters are all over the place? Meh. I couldn't find a biger image online and I'm too lazy to scan the book.
Oh and leave me comments or I think you don't like me.
I'm needy.
7/8/2008 - Found what once was lost or at least forgotten
Posted by Zram
So, I stumbled back here, to the drawing board and eventually to the blog.... I wasn't sure if it would be worth it, but I spent the last couple of nights deleting the 400 or so spam replies that got littered on my less then 17 entries here... It was sad, I was so excited when I signed in that first day and saw that I had like 400+ comments! I was like what! No way!... and it was a great big hose job, spam bots spamming stupid stuff...
The replies where 2 years old now. I finally got rid of them. Now what. Am I going to start posting here again? After all these years. I've become so stagnant. So old, so tired, sad and defeated. Most of the people I used to come to the forum to read about and get excited by are gone elsewhere, those that I enjoyed banter with and a kind of friendship through the stories they told are also gone... moved on, moved away to some other activities, some gave up on the art that once came here to improve, having seen their limits and deciding not to work and push beyond them for other persuits.
7.7.2008 - Canada Spring 08': A wedding, 3 cities & a national park Part 1
Posted by rainboy
So… after 5 long years I was back to è beautiful maple country, Canada, once again. There could be so many reasons for me to fly half the globe to be there, but my dear friends, Mike & LeeAnn gave me the best ones... Their wedding!!! “\{^0^}/”
Calgary: Getting Lost. Old Friends. New Friends.
Just few days after arriving in Vancouver, I set off to Calgary. My original plan was to stay away from big cities & do è national parks, nature stuffs etc. That was, until I found out about “Drunken’s” (aka Alberto Ruiz) convention schedule from his blog… he would be in Calgary (for Calgary Comic & entertainment Expo ) on è week I had planned to be in Banff…?! NiCe! It has been 5 years since we last hang out &… just be two silly “drunken” gooses :p
So, changed of plan, slightly anyway (well… my plan changed quite a bit in è end… è story is for later though… sigh… yes… its gonna be a very "OCEaN" kinda situation).
After dropping off my backpacks at è hostel & spending quite some time, getting lost (took è opposite direction train…yap), I finally arrived at Round Up Centre around late afternoon. As I followed è signage to è Comic & entertainment expo, I got a bit nervous. First, about needing to make a call to let Alberto know I had arrived (I’m usually nervous when I am è one making è call). Second, I was worried tat after 5 years of not much contact (I’m a jerk when it comes to keeping in touch with friends :p ) there would be some awkwardness between us… so it was a huge relief when there were none! We are still è same silly gooses after all :P
Calgary Comic & Entertainment had some nice collection of toys & books. If I had spent more time there, I would probably over shoot my budget :p (Yes guys, I’ve learn to control my shopping Spree) Still, I did bought quite a bit of art books from è bunch of talented artists there. Did I mention they were generous & nice too? Yap. Yap. Discounts, great sketches, free artbooks/ sketchbooks… Thanks!
Being back in è same booth with Drunken brought back memories of San Diego Comics Con in è summer of 2003 when I was his assistance at e booth… sigh… it was a real good time {^_^} Now he has a even better assistance, his lovely daughter, Alison {6_~}
Ok, now for the bizarre travel tale. Yap, how can an OCEaN trip be without a little bizarreness here & there right? Hehee :p
Anyhoo, after spending the morning at the Expo, I headed down to my friend, Bahar’s place for lunch. Following her direction bought me to è business district in downtown. Since it was Sunday è area was pretty deserted. The only other person I saw on tat street was having a blast… masturbating. Well… he was not exactly doing it in è open but behind a huge pillar of an office building… Yah~Ap… ANYway, I thought it would be a better idea to cross è street instead of walking on tat side of è road.
After I got to è other side, I looked across & saw tat he was out in è open… doing his thing while watching me passed by…. Since I had an experience with “wiener” incident in my previous travel (see: Thailand Trip), I juz rolled my eyes & walk on (heh, but I would probably jumped or screamed like a gal if I was still at tat side of è road :p ) Just another weird thing tat happens in a city.
(Tips #1:Westjet is a cheap way to fly across è country. You can usually get good deal on certain days if your flying date or time is flexible. I got mine from Vancouver to Calgary, one way, at a pretty good price: CAD$112 incl tax & all.
Tips #2: If u ever meet crazy stranger who show their wiener in public, è best thing to do is ignore ‘em. NEVER, laugh at their “little brother” well… unless you can kick their ass tats if.)
Banff National Park: A hike along the river & catching a predator. Plus late night Wii.
It never ease to amaze me how stunngly beautiful è British Columbia's Rockies are. If you have a "places to visit before you die" check list, B.C Rockies should be in it.
After some shopping at GAP, there were still quite some times to burn. Hiking would be fun & enjoyable especially with such beautifully surrounding. However, I am not exactly wearing è right footwear… wearing a flip-flop. Therefore, I asked è sales staff for advice on a short & easy hike around Banff town. He pointed me to 2, one along è river, è other across è river towards è The route tat gives me view of Chaeteu from è opposite side. Ok, so easy. hike. Along è river. These words were what I remembered…
As è trail become rockier & narrower, I started to wonder if I went by a wrong trail. Ok, I’m along a river, it was not a difficult hike except è trail was very near e edge of è cliff… & a hike means walking on rocky ground of some sort right…? So… è hike he mentioned could not be tat highway I passed by earlier on… right?
I got my answer when I reached è point where there was no way anyone without experience & right gear can cross over… OoOk~ time to turn back. To say I did not panic at all would be bravado… Heehee~ as I hiked back, I keep chanting “Your life is not your own, your life is not your own” . :p
When I find way back to è highway, I turn around to look at tat signboard I saw earlier on…. Of course it was a “No Hiking” signage.
Although my hike had a bit
I bought a Greyhound Discovery 7 days pass so I had it all plan out how best to make my money worth but as it would be, I screwed up.
(Tips: buy your Greyhound Discovery pass before you leave your country, as it is cheaper when you buy overseas. Tax free. And buy it at least 2 weeks before you leave as snail mail does takes time.)
My itinerary was to stop by Drumheller for a day trip on my way to Saskatoon but I’ve changed this plan so many times in è end I thought I was doing it after my Saskatoon trip.
Well, this turns out to be not a bad thing actually. I stayed è night with the folks & artists from Calgary Comic & Entertainments expo. Had some great burgers, played some wii games, getting pull into è world of American reality show. My favourit is " To catch a predator". Its a reality show where they set up " phedolpher" into believeing they will be having a 'fun' time with their young dates... yewWw....
Alberto & Andrew even acted it out for me.. hahaaa~!
“Come in! There’s cookie & drinks on the table”
HAhaa~ you guys made my day, thanks!
Saskatoon: OCEaN's not so amazing race
So after everyone left I took a cab back to my resort & start packing my bags since I’ve a 4pm bus to catch. After a night of Wii I’m feeling really exashted so I decided to juz catch a quick nap, there’s still about 4hrs before I’m scdeule to go… AND of course, I’d to overslept. Bus leaves 4pm. I woke up 3.45pm.
Sigh… & so I’d to change all my plan, no more stop over at other towns & I’d to ge a flight FROM Calgary to Edmonton now so I can catch è bus to Saskatoon. And to make things even more 'exciting' for me, I almost missed my bus too as there was a delay with the bags… whew! I think I lost at least 2kg then.
OK… so I spent my day in Saskatoon… watching Avatars. Sigh… yes I’m a hopeless potato couch… err… couch potato…wait its potato couch… …. whatever {^_^} .
7.7.2008 - Canada Spring 08': A wedding, 3 cities & a national park Part 2
Posted by rainboy
con't....
The wedding was perfect.
We had a beautiful sunny day, amazing scenery (Q. E Park), a Scott playing his bagpipe, friends & relative from all over è country & world and of course… è blissful bride & bridegroom who sparkle like è day itself.
As usual… in è OCEaN fashion, we always have a little story to add on….
On my ran to the conservatory for è wedding ceremony, this little Indian boy kept staring at me… in fact he ACTUALLY ran to his brother THEN to his mum, & whisper something to ‘em, which after that they all turn back & look at me… O-ok… I will admit I looked a bit out of place, with my short retro dress & red heels, running across the park…. BUT, hey, didn’t your mama tells you it’s rude to stare… guess not since her mum was staring at me too {^_^}
Ok, back to the wedding.
While, LeeAnn & Mike went for their wedding shooting, a group of us decided to walk around the park since there were still have some times before the reception. Hehee~ Karinga, Bobby & Gabriel actually started playing hacky sack. At one point even LeeAnn had a go at it! She is probably è coolest bride ever! Playing hacky sack in her wedding gown?! That’s LeeAnn for you {^_^} Too bad I was too slow to take a photo of tat.
Soon, it was time to say goodbye. Mike & LeeAnn were flying off to England for their honeymoon è very next day, Karinga & me would be leaving Vancouver pretty soon after as well. But of course we need a group photo before everyone says goodnight & ciao!
It was only 11.30pm but already è streets were pretty deserted. That’s ok though, as I enjoy a quiet leisure walk at night with friends. And after taking off my heels (tat were killing me!), you got one happy OCEaN {^_^} . On our way home, we talked about good times, old friends, friendships that were but lost now… friendships that are & will still be strong in a long time to come.
At that moment, I felt that I finally have a closure to this chapter of my life. I’ll always miss this part of it no doubt, but… yap.
Hello there World! I’m ready to trot the rest of it! HeE~HahAa~!!
P/S. No photos here... too lazy to upload. Might do tat in a much much later date :p
This morning is crazy busy at work, but I didn't want to wait until the afternoon lull to share with you my Superman: Man o' Style entry for Project: Rooftop.
I did several, but only bothered to take one of them through to the final-draft stage. I could write an essay, but I'll just say that I was going for Superman: Two-Fisted Space Explorer. I was inspired by Flash Gordon. The belt is part wrestler-belt and part Supergirl belt from this, my favorite Supergirl cover. The "S" is a bit chunkier and, I think, feels "happier." And the shield on his back is just a blank, metallic-yellow diamond.
I uploaded a few pieces from the last Dr. Sketchy I went to. I brought in my laptop. The models were 2 very interesting and very large women. They're performers in Big Moves, a dance troop with fat people. They posed with skampy outfits, which is propper Sketchy attire. They were pretty fun to draw and they also talked a lot, which is usually not goot for a model to do because it tends to make them move, but they didn't. We laughed a lot.
FYI, the one with glasses had pasties on her nipples, just so you didn't think they were bloody or something.
Tata!
Last Monday I got really drunk! And I drew ladies! Or a lady. Mama Lou Strongwoman performed at the May Dr. Sketchy and absolutely killed. C'lammy Jon was all in love and it was great. I don't remember how long I spent on each of these so, instead, I'll tell you what I was drinking at the time.
Assembly begins!
Getting closer
There is the basic self with some 
Of all the sketches I did, this is e one tat really brings out how I wanted rainboy to be. Cute, mischiefious, but still a little "gong, gong" (dumb) kinda feel . A mischiefious tomboy & a Silly goose sometimes.
Other than rainbow pig, her e other best friend is 
Hi - Acrylic on board
Sub - Gouache on Board
The Bird Exclaimed - Gouache on Board
Stupid stick got in the way...
I will take my brandy in the study, Jeeves.
See how the letters are all over the place? Meh. I couldn't find a biger image online and I'm too lazy to scan the book.
There are many more from hundreds of artists 