Lettering--sweet god, save me

Here's a stab at hand lettering--compare it with the image in the previous post. I did several versions of the text on bristol with a Hunt 102 nib, and some Micron pens. The version I used here was done with a .05 micron.

I had to make some of the balloons bigger and adjust some of my word spacing once I got it into the computer. Screen readability is much more of an issue with hand lettering. I do think I'm liking it better than the Digital Strip version.

Seeing as it is going to actually be a pain in the @#$% and probably double my production time to hand-letter, I think I'm going to have to make/commission a custom font based on my lettering. Only thing is, I think I'm going to need to hand letter quite a few strips first before I get a decent sample of my lettering to start creating a font with. Sigh.

T-Bag Special

Not that anyone's listening, but I'm going to commit to daily posting again as a "ramp-up" to "launching" the Arms and Ether web strip. Above is a panel from a 4-panel strip. Three issues:

1. Color.
Advantages: It's in color.
Disadvantages: Color is not essential to the story, it takes longer, and it could suck.
Right now, I'm leaning pretty heavily towards color. I think it looks better to indifferent strangers.

2. Periodicity. Daily, Weekly, Monthly, etc
Right now, I'm leaning towards "Quasi-Daily," though we'll see. I'm not going to launch until I've got 10-15 strips "in the can." After the launch, I'll then see how efficiently the reserve fills back up and adjust accordingly. If it doesn't fill back up, I'll just get into model trains or something.

3. Is this "it?"
Of course, it's stupid to predict what something will become. But my XXX fantasy is that this strip will be my primary creative focus--that I can channel my many-splendor'd djinn into this form. The hook is that this inter'web thing is tres flexible. I don't have to stick to the 4-panel structure (though I'm currently enjoying working with those creative limits). I could throw in animation or more elaborate drawing as the mood hits. It's "a whole new world" as the marvelous Disney people have told us.

We'll see. Like I said, model trains might be pretty cool. They are, actually.

Herodotus!

Getting the Arms and Ether characters together. . . here's Herodotus. Funny that he doesn't know how to draw togas either.

Quelque Minions

Character studies for Arms and Ether

God help us all. It's milesinada.com

Yes, I finally got my URL act together. So type milesinada.com, inadaville.com or armsandether.com into your preferred web browser, and you will be magically transported here. The reason for all of this foolishness (and my web silence) is I'm gearing up for an internet invasion and an online Arms and Ether comic strip. Ultimately, those URLs will link to a new Arms and Ether "web site." More to come as things develop. I'm pretty manic depressive about the whole thing right now. It's great! It's horrible! Yes! No! etc. More as the creative cycle sputters on. Oops, time for a critique with "the kids."

Jeff File for Animation Class-- lip synch with phonemes and flash symbols

Animation students, click here to download the Jeff.FLA file (if you dare). It's a 9 mb zip file, so it might take a bit to download. Patience and all that. Anyhow, you can analyze to see how I worked with nested symbols and "swapping" for the phonemes. Quality. Regular folk, can click the picture to see the swf file.

Web URL

For DMF folk--here's how you enter a hot url:
The Miles Site

Phonemes

For the animation class--here are some cruddy phonemes (with a beautiful model)

Platon

Here's the url for the contemporary photographer, Platon. We've been looking at his work in our Digital Media Foundations class. He also has a photo essay entitled Service in this week's New Yorker. Click here to check it out online.

Bald Power: Cal Ripken Jr. and Glenn "Divine" Milstead Unite!

This connection must have been made somewhere before as both Cal and the late, great, "Divine" are prominent Baltimore figures. Nonetheless, it bears illustration. Thanks to my brother for drawing this to my attention.

Comic Class--Roughing in the Story

Here is a .png of the template I used to rough out Arms and Ether.
Download and enjoy. The other images are side by side scans of my roughs next to my finished artwork.

I wanted to illustrate two points for my comic/picture book class.
1. Don't let artwork hang up your writing and your ideas. Get the flow going. REFINE artwork LATER.
2. ROUGH your pages in quickly so that you are able to establish the flow and feel of your story. Make edits in the rough stage before you've dropped a day's work on drawing a page the story would be better off without.

Picture from DMF demo

There's a right way to rock
And a wrong way to roll
You should just listen to your soul
Just remember that life is number one
You could be having so much fun.

From Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!

DMF Sample Poste

I make picture. It is good.

Fallen Summer

Summer dies to fall. Dang it. Back to work.

Been a bit

And a good summer. Building a shack in the back yard, riding bikes with Sam, all-night Battlestar Galactica and Spore jags, working on an animation with Casey and Jennifer, on-going mid-life crisis--sorting through death and personal-cultural responses to it. Good times. School looms, but bring it on. Also, I haven't checked blog or email for about a month. My apologies. This is a background in progress from the in-progress animation. Silky. Me want draw more landscape outside, but me too afraid to tremblingly confront me inadequacy before pulsating expansive nature.

3D nothingness

hope
pander
repress
should
"the RIGHT way"
bleh
ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting by Scott Spencer is a very good book on ZBrush.
I learn stuff from it
pat on head
now forget it all

Brad Neely--damn you

Laughing, sobbing over Professor Brothers.
My life has been a cowardly lie.
I need ignorance and down-time.
Need to quit or take it up a notch.
"When I was around her, I felt like a goblin made entirely out of wicked genitals."
Goddamnit.

This lion knocker was made in ZBrush following the tutorial from Scott Spencer's, ZBrush Character Creation: Advanced Digital Sculpting.

Professor Evolution Soccer

Okay, finally got around to giving all the Pro Evolution Soccer Premier League teams their proper names. No more "Lancashire Athletic." It's "Wigan," now, baby. Farewell, Teeside. Hello, 'Boro.

Dang it. Now I've got to lay low.

From today's Medford Mail Tribune:
Police circulate sketch of Human Bean robber.
"Witnesses described him as a white man about 30 with dark, short hair, a full beard and a pot belly. He was last seen wearing a tank top and long black shorts, police said."

Better put off that trip to Medford. I'd just be asking for trouble.
"But officer, I'm 41!"

Plus that damn drawing looks like every other page in my sketchbook. . . Maybe I'd better change my profile picture.

Contemporary Approaches to Immortality

Grasping a fist-sized ball of elemental energy whether as hooded street-druid or cryptic man-goat is a sure-fire way to express your mastery over the horrifying unknowable forces of life and death. Failing that, you may want to purchase a 3D imaging system (such as Softimage XSI 7!) which would "give you the power" to create a moving simulacrum of such a vision. Behold.
And yes, as a Protoss Dragoon will insist on telling you, "I have returned."