I've been meaning to actually put myself through one of the courses that I taught at college - in this case the Fundamentals of Drawing. Originally it was so that the students could see what level of effort is expected on their part, expecially when it comes to the visual diary aspect, but also for my benefit. Working on a computer means that I don't draw nearly as much as I should. So I may post bits and pieces of what I come up with, depending on how dodgy they are.
Last night I was struck by the need to sketch Frederick, a character from my SO's film, The Adjustable Cosmos. I've done a few animation scenes in Flash with this particular character so wanted to see how I'd go hand-drawing him. I'm somewhat disturbed to admit that I've become a touch possessive of the character and don't like it when someone else animates him. I showed them to SO who immediately claimed that the one in the robe looked like Alan Rickman, to which I answered in the negative obviously a millisecond too quickly and therefore was treated to an accusation of sensitivity and denial. They're similar only in that they're human. Sort of.
There's also a rather ghey elf in there that I drew previously in an attempt to draw something I don't normally draw. And now I remember why.

I get unreasonably excited about spotting familiar actors in Boston Legal episodes.  I almost squeed when Quark (Armin Shimmerman) and Odo (Rene Aubergonois)  were in the same room.  Last night it was Quellek (Patrick Breen) and Laliari (Missi Pyle).

Albeit a strange one.

This was for Unit 16's Movie Tag Team activity. My S.O. very kindly gave me Dr Lazarus to draw. It was a toss up between this picture and another, which I might end up doing anyway. We'll see.

Animated, of course.

This was a cute, short article I read this morning.  It's quite an interesting social experiment.  The penultimate paragraph made me chuckle:

"The journey of the fragile robots was documented and video footage shows a variety of helpers, from those only willing to use their feet to guide the creatures along, to girls who crouched down to inspect and help the robots on their way, to a man who said out loud "You can't go that way, it's toward the road."

But it also made me think.  The man's reaction - did that come from an instinctive connection with this humanoid (albeit angular) robot, or did it come from increasing exposure to film and literature where humans and robots/androids/mechanoids communicate relatively effortlessly?  Certainly, it could have been a reflexive action.  After all, we talk to our pets and half the time they've got no idea what we're going on about, gauging our moods from our tone of voice and reacting to that.

Then perhaps do an entry for June SNARC over on IJ's snapedom. It goes for this month, then I pick a winner. A prize, but not sure what yet.Alas, keep it clean.  Picture in action.

It's frogs getting married! *shrieks in delight*

Look at the tiny costumes!! *shrieks again*

I have begun a short stint of working for SO.  He's convinced me to do a storyboard for the new season of Dogstar.  Well, not so much convinced as not left me much option!  Still, despite the fact that I have done desperately few 'boards, let alone a 'board for a half-hour show, this is a good thing.  Expanding my range.  Getting the skills. Realising how crap my drawing ability has become.  Trying to get my now-claw of a hand to work properly while typing this.  My first day wasn't too cack-handed, so let's see if I can maintain the level of dithering.  It also gives me the chance to use a Cintiq, which is a screen and drawing tablet combined.  Using it is a bit like the old-style paper and pencil, only now with Ctrl Z!

If Snape were ever to permit himself a man-crush, how can it not be on the Tyrant of the Kitchens?

Watch on fast, because this is the drawing that never eeeeeeeeeeeeends!

I did an uberquick entry for May SNARC over on IJ's snapedom. The theme was 'Snape in Love', and I think it was stated that it didn't have to involve another person. I did it in ArtPad, hence the wobbliness of it. Go through it on Fast speed cos I spend ages dicking about. Competition ends this week so if you've an idea, go to snapedom and submit!

In action here.

Still sort of winding down from teaching and am now staring at the hu-massive pile of paperwork at home to sort through. So with this teeter-tower of 'things-to-do', I found my time more favourably employed by playing Flower on the PS3 after work last night. It's a beautiful, sweet game that shows not all console games have to involve blowing kneecaps off and fighting zombies (not that there's anything wrong with that, but it does get a bit same-y after a while). It's actually the perfect thing to play after work when you want to relax instead of locking your body up into adrenaline soaked knots because some 12 year old has shot you for the fifth time in eight seconds. Lovely soundtrack, too. I think SO got it for $12 online (legitimately, not a crack). If you're one of those people that tips their controller in the direction they want to head in on the screen, inducing laughter from those still at school, this is a great game for you, cos that's how you control. You are the wind and the idea is to pollinate the flowers in a landscape. Which means you're sort of facilitating vegetal orgy on a grand scale, but hey... spread the love.

It's been yonks. This is to sort of celebrate my completion of this trimester's teaching. I won't be teaching next trimester. The thought of teaching 60+ students Flash CS4, aka a bag of temperamental shit, was too much. Good riddance, I say!
Clicky for bigger. I had to split it into two pieces cos of sizing issues.
( End Of Term )

Whilst this film was not a disaster by any stretch of the imagination, I just felt that there were several issues that seemed shoddily handled. And that was such a shame.

I know pictures of celebs get Photoshopped, but when you see the before and after, it's still very disturbing.

( Before & After )

It's not that Madonna looks old in the one on the left that disturbs me, although it is a bit of a surprise since we rarely see photos of her like this, but it's how far the digi-artist went in the version on the right that bothers me. Heaven forfend we should get old!
Of course, it's always possible that BOTH pictures have been Photoshopped.

Obama era triggers gun 'panic'.

Apparently.

Russell, who also doesn't want to give his last name, says sales are booming because "we don't want it to happen here like your government screwed up your country, taking your guns and freedom away from you".

What da??