The Place Where Al Dwells...

Birthday #37

2012-01-22T02:29:00.000-06:00

Above: Gifts from wifey. Below: Epic hangoutz.

I've proven over and over again that I'm just not much of a birthday guy. Passage of time, regrets, a year closer to the grave, yaddayaddayadda. With that said, I like to think I'm getting better at the whole thing. I decided to spend the evening of my birthday with friends, which is something my wife has been after me to do for ages.

So, I did! My homies Jeope and Chris joined me at Kawaii Crepe for all sorts of geeky chat, which was a reprise of out last get-together. No complaints here!

And yes, I do own that (empty) jar of Nutella now.

P.S.: Public shout-out to Chris for the cool comics and tchotchkes! Thanx!

Year-End Random Thoughts: December 31st, 2011

2011-12-31T17:01:00.001-06:00

I make my resolutions public so it stings all the more when I fail. That's how I roll.

2012 RESOLUTIONS

Self-explanatory. I plan to bring my exercise total up to "some" from "virtually nil".
I became way too intimate with my overdraft limit this year. I hope to dead that issue in the twenty dozen. On the business front, I was a participant in the Art of Managing Your Career course, so I now have the tools to be my own boss. Time to make it happen.
Draw every day, or at least every other day. Why not? I have no excuses, especially with resources like this around.
Organized, in every way. Lessen the clutter. A place for everything, and every thing in its place. We'll see how long this attitude lasts.
One of the best things about having your own workspace is putting up stuff on the walls. I put up three awesome things this year, and I need to put up more. Cool stuff on my walls makes me want to create. Needless to say, this is really good.

MY 2011 MUSIC LIST (no, it's not another top 10)

Stuff I Loved The Most:

Danny Brown's XXX
Birdapres' Catch An L
Blueprint's Adventures in Counter-Culture
Tom Waits' Bad As Me
Army Girls' Close to the Bone
The Roots' Undun

XXX is so good, I can't believe it's free. Brown goes from hedonistic superhero to ghetto rubble storyteller to vulnerable dude in the course of 19 breezy tracks. I found this shit enthralling from day one.

I can say the same about Catch An L. The immediacy of dusty breaks combined with Bird's brainy flow made this a winner for me. Take a listen to "Show No Flair" (with John Smith blazing the second verse), and you'll be taken back to '89 with your feet still planted firmly in this day and time. Grab it from Marathon of Dope, and don't forget to donate.

Blueprint's Adventures was a fine display of an emcee attempting to spread his wings musically, and I think he showed a lot of growth here. The gem of this album? The passionate "Radio-Inactive".

It's clichéd to say so, but there are people that are Tom Waits fans, and there are those that are not, sometimes vehemently so. I don't know where I'm going with this. Bad As Me is just really good. So there.

I have Michael Elves to thank for introducing me to Army Girls via his blog. I love me a two person rock 'n' roll combo. They remind me of a punchier Inbreds, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Yo, I could go on and on about how amazing and smooth Undun is, but all I really want to talk about is the open ?uestlove drums on "The OtherSide" and "Tip the Scale". I could listen to those ALL DAY. LOOPED. Them shits do amazing things to my brain.

Stuff I Need to Spend More Time With:

The Black Keys' El Camino
Phonte's Charity Begins At Home
This Hisses' "Surf Noir"
Pip Skid's People Are the Worst
Tim Hoover's More Napkins (Hey, did I mention that I have this release on cassette?)
The Cool Kids' When Fish Ride Bicycles
Mayer Hawthorne's How Do You Do

...and why the hell didn't I buy that Charles Bradley album?

MY FAVORITE POSTERS & ART PRINTS OF 2011

Posters:

Alamo Drafthouse Dracula poster by Vania Zouravliov and Aaron Horkey: http://omgposters.com/2011/01/12/dracula-poster-by-vania-zouravliov-and-aaron-horkey-onsale-info/
Circa Survive poster by The Silent Giants: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/137472_Circa_Survive.html
Lucero Poster Set by Chris Huth: http://omgposters.com/2011/02/11/lucero-poster-set-by-chris-huth/
Deerhoof poster by Shawn K. Knight: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/139057_Deerhoof.html
Saucy Yoda tour poster by Rory Phillips: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24327290@N02/5467820584/
Kevin Tong's Appleseed Cast poster: http://omgposters.com/2011/03/29/kevin-tongs-poster-for-the-appleseed-cast-plus-art-print/
Rich Kelly's The Hold Steady poster: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/141825_Hold_Steady.html
Landland's Black Keys poster: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/143471_Black_Keys.html
Phish poster by Rich Kelly: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/144500_Phish.html
Majesty poster by DX: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/139656_Majesty.html
2 Hum posters by Jay Ryan: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/147174_Hum.html and http://www.gigposters.com/poster/147175_Hum.html
Valdez poster by C. Gomez: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/147182_Valdez.html
X poster by Lil' Tuffy: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/148166_X.html
Portugal, The Man's poster by BlackYard http://www.blackyard.ch/?p=2054
Andrew Bird poster by Hero Design http://heroandsound.com/?p=4113
Good Old War poster by T-Bone and Aljaxx: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/148631_Good_Old_War.html

Art Prints:

"Glory Is Forever" art print by Hero Design Studio: http://heroandsound.com/?p=3479
Weapons of Mass Creation (red bomb version) art print by Justin Kamerer: http://www.angryblue.com/index.php?pcat=1&item=902
Nunavut art print by Jay Ryan and Aaron Horkey: http://thebirdmachine.com/detail.php?uid=DD4865

...and one poster I should've added last year, but I was sadly unaware of it – Brett Stenson's Built to Spill poster: http://www.gigposters.com/poster/132661_Built_To_Spill.html

Well, I think that's all the stuff I've got in my head, spilled out before you via ones and zeros. I hope 2011 treated you well, and that 2012 treats you even better. Personally, I'd rather forget 2011 existed, but I'm not gonna harp on that any longer. It's time to kick some ass!
G'night, folks!

Everything I Got For Christmas...

2011-12-30T23:37:00.002-06:00

...all in one photo set on Flickr:

Boxing Day Haul 2011

2011-12-28T04:10:00.002-06:00

This is comparatively lighter than last year's stack of purchases, but no less essential or awesome.

Glenn Barr's Faces
Hark! A Vagant by Kate Beaton
Infinite Kung Fu by Kagan McLeod
Habibi by Craig Thompson
Def Jam Recordings: The First 25 Years of the Last Great Record Label by Def Jam, Bill Adler and Dan Charnas
Steinweiss by Alex Steinweiss, Steven Heller and Kevin Reagan

The bottom two were purchased at Chapters with a 30% discount. The rest were from Comics America at a discount of 25%.

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

2011-12-25T01:54:00.000-06:00

I currently have this here playlist on repeat. The soundtrack for the gift opening (which will happen as soon as lil' man gets up) will be provided by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, of course.
All the best to you and yours.

A Review of Deseo Bistro In Two Tweets

2011-12-04T03:04:00.001-06:00

Hyperbole? Sure. All I know is, I left that place feeling like the very embodiment of satisfaction. Go to Deseo, get satisfied. www.deseobistro.com

Eleven Achieved!

2011-11-28T01:18:00.001-06:00

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I needed an "11" in my workspace, so I painted one! No, it's not perfect (check that white gouache smudge at the top left), but it'll do. Things are coming together in this spot. Did I mention that the cardboard came from this Steinweiss calendar?

Cloud Nine

2011-11-22T02:09:00.001-06:00

In the hubbub of this already-half-over month, I neglected to mention that The Place Where Al Dwells... turned nine on the eighth. Crazy! Yeah, I post a lot over at Mr. Lorde Should Be Drawing nowadays, but this blog is where I go off at length, and I still have a lot of love for it.This year has been rather fucking horrible, so I'm happy to have kept the woe-is-me posts to a minimum. I'll pat myself on the back once I'm done typing.
Another nine years? I guess that's up to whether apathy finally consumes me or not.
Fingers crossed!

One Year Old!

2011-11-12T23:00:00.000-06:00

Dante and his pirate self (which was used in his birthday party invite).

My lil' man turned one today! After all this time, I'm still in disbelief that he's here. We had his birthday celebration the week before, because Sarah had to return to work today (BOOOO!). Many thanks to everyone that showed up that day. It was truly special.
For a chronological look at the dude, look here and here.

11/11/11

2011-11-11T02:09:00.001-06:00

Y'all know about Photo-Lettering, right? You should.

I wrote a draft of this post a few months ago, but now is as good a time as any to write this. I don't spread this around much, but 11 is my favorite number. Why?

Even though it doesn't appear much in my work at all, I love symmetry.
It was Isiah Thomas' number. I cared about basketball once.
January 11th is my birthday. I guess it's only natural.

I need an 11 in my workspace somewhere. Either via old physical signage (like in Tad Carpenter's space), a painted sign, or something made by me. We'll see what happens. It'd be nice to look at every once in a while.

How Long Has This Been Going On?

2011-11-10T01:03:00.001-06:00

I've been using Instagram for over a year, and I swear I never noticed that option before. I've been liking stuff left and right, all the while thinking it was pretty stupid to not have an option to view what you've marked as a fave. Color me stupefied.At any rate, this is the last time I'll quote Ace in post titles.

EVIL!

2011-10-17T21:41:00.001-05:00

Speed Dial 7's "Pure Evil", featuring Pip Skid. More madness from Marathon of Dope, directed by Mike Maryniuk. So damn good.

Ten Years of Me and GP

2011-09-15T00:40:00.000-05:00

Posters everywhere! They were the oasis in my corporate world. Photo taken Dec. 8th, 2006.

For me, one good thing came out of the week that 9/11 happened: I became a member of gigposters.com. I'm still unsure, but I do believe I found GP through a link at the Tijuana Bibles (R.I.P.) site. In addition to half-assing my graphic design assignments at RRC, I spent many a late hour "surfing the web" (shit, does anyone say that anymore? It was still appropriate back then) in the Mac lab, looking for all kinds of stuff online, and GP became part of my regular routine.

I can't say this enough: GP changed my life and put me on my current path. Seeing the exciting work coming in from all over the world, and bending the ears of people I admire in the forums truly augmented my book learnin'.

Gotta give many thanks and props to Clay Hayes, the site's mastermind/head honcho/caretaker. Dude, I can't thank you enough.

September 11th, 2001

2011-09-10T15:34:00.001-05:00

On that day, I do believe I woke up later than I should've for school. I can't remember if I caught the coverage right away, or if Sarah called me and told me what was up. Probably the latter.

I do remember the commute to RRC being far more sombre and quiet than usual. I also remember a TV being set up in the general area of the Graphic Design department so we could all stay up to date. The gravity of the situation gradually became apparent to me as the day went on, and that nothing would ever be the same.

That's all I remember.

TOOTH!

2011-08-28T14:36:00.003-05:00

If you don’t know about the kick-ass work of Dale Flattum (the man known as TOOTH), it’s high time you got familiar. He just put out a terrific book of his sinister collage and digital doings (look in the store section of his site) which I recommend purchasing.

Yes, I drink a fair amount of Pepsi Max. I plan on doing something with those caps.

(Cross-posted at Mr. Lorde Should Be Drawing)

The Many Faces of Pip

2011-08-24T21:40:00.000-05:00

Two flavors of "You Soooo Much", from Pip Skid's Skid Row album. Directed by Jason Lapeyre.

Tecmo World Wrestling...

2011-08-21T00:19:00.000-05:00

...as reviewed by internet wrestling pundit Joe Gagne for Mike and Tom Present...
I'm all too familiar with this game. I never had my own NES, so I rented one (with Mom's permission) from a nearby pawn shop to play this specific game. I never finished the game, but I had a blast trying to. This may have been the first time I stayed up until sunrise due to a frivolous pursuit. Mom was pretty pissed.

Jokes!

2011-08-20T23:41:00.001-05:00

What we've got right here is the new video for Speed Dial 7's "Jokes" (from the album 11, which you can get at Marathon of Dope). My homie big Yy takes the second verse. Pip Skid plays the scuzzy clown. Enjoy!

The Unveiling of the Jets Brand Identity

2011-07-22T23:45:00.002-05:00

So, we got the new Jets logo that I've been wondering about since May. It's quite...middling in quality. Take a look.

Now don't get me wrong; I don't hate this at all, I just expected more, especially with the primary and alternate wordmarks. I just find them a tad stoic. That's usually the coolest part for me. I'm not saying it should look all bouncy and puffy, but it should look lively. It's kinda cold.

What I do like about it: The use of Avenir (that is Avenir, right?) and the RCAF/RCAF Flyers connection.
The People That Could've Handled This Better
Locally - Stu Reid: Stu has been holding it down graphic design-wise for years, and he created the Winnipeg Goldeyes logo. He would've been the natural go-to for me.
Americans - Aaron Draplin or Von Glitschka: I know either of these men could've kicked ass at this.
Aaron is the master of subtle cool-yet-functional design, as far as I'm concerned, and I have no doubt that he'd sum the Jets up in a way that would make everyone proud.
Von is a meticulous pusher of pixels (buy his books!) and an avid lettering guy. Not only would've the primary mark looked amazing in his hands, the wordmarks would've also been world class. Do I have to mention that he worked for Upper Deck? He knows what's up.

This, of course, is merely my opinion. Apparently, there was a line-up around the corner for the new merch at the Jets Gear store, and it might still be there as I type this, so the people dig it. That's all that matters.

Man, I really hope Armin Vit has something to say about the new look. I enjoy his identity dissections. I'm pretty sure folks have pointed it out to him.

Random Thoughts: July 15th, 2011

2011-07-15T04:05:00.002-05:00

Surreal, yet terrific.

Black, White, and Read All Over. Yes, I was in the Free Press about two weeks ago. And yes, it felt pretty cool! Also, just in time for the article, I revamped allanlorde.com via Behance ProSite. I finally have a site that I'm proud of.
Fringe Time! Yup, it's that time of the year! Due to the awesomeness of parenthood, Sarah and I are planning on seeing two shows instead of the usual 20 or so. Four hours ago, we saw our pals CRUMBS tear up The King's Head, and we've got our tickets for Lucky 9 by superstar T.J. Dawe. If you're going to the Thursday afternoon show next week, give us a shout!
Mike Holmes' True Story. If you pick up only one comic this year, make sure it's True Story. Mike Holmes (not the house dude) is an illustrator and cartoonist of undeniable skill, and he's responsible for bringing the real stories of average people to life in The Coast, a Halifax alternative newspaper. I don't know who put me onto this man's work (I suspect it was Exclaim), but I'm eternally thankful. There are over 100 of these slice-of-life moments in this book that are touching, cringe-worthy, and downright hilarious. Hey, you haven't laughed in a while. Pick this book up, frowny!

On the Eve of My First Father's Day

2011-06-18T16:02:00.000-05:00

Photo by my lovely wife. She's awesome.

I'll be frank: getting to spend more time with my son this year has been the highlight of a rather shittastic 2011. The surprised and happy look he gives me when I come downstairs in the morning makes me feel like every day is The Dad Show. No drug can replicate that.
However, if someone were to create a drug capable of such a thing, they'd make a killing.

I won't make any bones about this, either: I'm a better dad than my own. Mine SUCKS. He's an ignorant, sexist, philandering Neanderthal. The best thing he did for me, other than donate DNA, was provide an apex example of what a dad shouldn't be. In some way, I should be thankful for that, but I'm hard pressed to give him credit for anything. Can you blame me?

"Stop being baby daddies, and be fathers..."
– "Why", Fashawn

PechaKucha Night Vol. 6

2011-06-12T16:58:00.001-05:00

Photos by Adrian J. K. Shum. Nice work, dude!

Last Thursday, I had the honor of being part of the sixth event of Winnipeg's PechaKucha Night. If you're unfamiliar with the concept and origin of PechaKucha, this right here will get you up to speed.
I spoke on the topic of procrastination, which ended up being rather cathartic for me.

Dribbblin'

2011-06-02T00:42:00.000-05:00

That's right, I'm now a Dribbble member. My friend Neil had a few invites available, and I was like, "well, why not?" So far, no regrets. In fact, I feel reinvigorated creatively. There's something about this combo of social media/Flickr/Twitter/show and tell that is pushing me to actually do stuff. Not gonna look this gift horse in the mouth.

I'm not sure how I found out about Dribbble, but I'm betting it was through Twitter. Upon arriving at the site, I was puzzled as to what it was about, as every picture uploaded was no bigger than 400 x 300, and either a fragment of a finished project, or an element of an unfinished one. And, to be truthful...I thought a lot of people were biting Frank Chimero.

With that said, I wasn't about to totally dismiss Dribbble. I learned my lesson with Twitter and Tumblr, both of which I now use avidly. I think I turned a corner on Dribbble due to an episode of The Freelance Radio Show, where panelist Von Glitschka mentioned that he was user of the site. That was good enough for me!

As I was saying, I've got a renewed vigor goin' here, and if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna work on something I made some notes on.

The Artist Formerly Known as Sixtoo

2011-05-30T03:27:00.001-05:00

While adding some songs to a playlist on CBC Radio 3's site, I thought to myself, "what the hell has Sixtoo been up to?" I knew his musical focus had switched, but I didn't know much else. It turns out he now runs a gallery and a creative agency (here's their Vimeo page), in addition to touring as Prison Garde. To be blunt, I think that's pretty fucking cool.

Above is the first installment of a series of Red Bull Music Academy tour videos, where Prison Garde and his cohorts jetted across the land to bring beats to the clubs. I recognized the Winnipeg Airport baggage pick-up area right away, and was immediately bummed that I missed their Peg City stop. Oh, well...can't see 'em all! I do love the shot of Portage and Main in this thing, by the way.

PRISONGARDE TOKYOBULLITTRAIN by prisongarde

Best of the Super Jr. XVIII

2011-05-27T00:36:00.000-05:00

I'm pretty excited for this year's tournament. Since New Japan started their own YouTube channel, we've been able to watch the action unfold on an almost daily basis. Participating again is Winnipeg's own Kenny Omega, who is bound to entertain and amaze the New Japan fans yet again.

Death By Popcorn

2011-05-25T21:05:00.000-05:00

There's still much speculation about what's gonna go down with the Atlanta franchise. In the meantime, let's watch this film that satirically documents the last days of the Jets. L'Atelier National du Manitoba are the cultural archivists behind this.

So, the Jets are back.

2011-05-20T01:02:00.000-05:00

Maybe. It's not official yet. Right now, the faithful are at Portage and Main, having a good ol' time and diverting buses. Apparently, an announcement may be made on Tuesday.
If the Thrashers relocate to Peg City, cool. I can't get mad at NHL hockey. I'm just tired of my fellow denizens getting jerked around. Well, my fingers are crossed.

The other question on people's minds should be: what are they gonna name 'em? Will the Jets monicker be slapped on 'em? Or will they still be the Thrashers? Also: will we see a brand new logo emerge, and will it get reviewed by Armin Vit?

(cross-posted at Mr. Lorde Should Be Drawing)

Getting Back On That Horse

2011-05-18T00:02:00.001-05:00

Mameshiba merch at Tokyu Hands – May 11th, 2009.

I've posted barely a fraction of my 2009 Japan photos. I'm attempting to make up for that (to myself, really) by posting 10 or more of them whenever I can. I've been dying to go back since the day I left, so this is my way of prolonging the magic.

The Therapeutic Power of Live Music

2011-05-15T01:26:00.001-05:00

Top: The Sadies at WECC, February 11th, 2011. Bottom: Kid Koala at WECC, April 21st, 2011.

The shows pictured above got me out of some emotionally rough spots recently. I could use another live music prescription right about now.

The Best Twitter @Mention I've Ever Received

2011-04-29T02:27:00.000-05:00

Aaron Draplin knows how to put a smile on this dude's face. Now, go buy some of his bad-ass merch already.

What a Shitty First Quarter

2011-04-20T02:46:00.000-05:00

Main & McDermot, March 29th, 2011

If 2011 were summed up in an annual report for my wife and myself, that would be the title of the first chapter. A number of things have happened, with the passing of my godmother and Sarah's lovely grandmother being the worst among them. I'm hoping and praying for a smoother remainder. For all of us.

Three and Four

2011-04-17T04:41:00.000-05:00

My latest contributions to LetterCult's Alphabattle. The other threes and fours here, and here.
And here's the "shocker" version of my three.

Changes Need to Be Made

2011-04-07T03:12:00.000-05:00

Needless to say, this period of joblessness has given me a lot of time to think. It can be argued that the thinking has morphed into brooding. One thing is clear, however: something must be done. Something must be done about...my portfolio site. But what? Well, updating the content, for one. Adding stuff. Should I give it a new look? Should I dump Indexhibit, the thing that I built it with?
These are the questions I'm wrestling with. In the meantime, it's time for new business cards.

Double Cheez

2011-03-14T23:46:00.000-05:00

I'll Take Two, Please, 2011 • graphite and Photoshop®

I've been checking LetterCult probably from the very beginning, although I can't remember how I found out about it. It might've been via Drawn, if I think about it carefully. Anyway...all that matters is that LetterCult is among the spots to be when it comes to custom lettering.

Last year, they started a thing called Alphabattle, where folks from everywhere did their take on letters A to Z, the results of which, when submitted to LetterCult via email, would end up posted on the site. I don't have to tell you that last year was nuts, so I never found the time to contribute (or didn't properly allot time, really). Having reached Z, they're messing with numbers now. While the 1 round slipped past my consciousness, I wasn't about to miss messing with the 2. With my current situation, I've decided to refocus my creative energy, and participating in this helped greatly.

By the way, I have to single out fellow Alphabattle dude Rory Phillips for posting amazing work each and every time. Take a look.

International Women's Day "Women In Comics" Shout-Out

2011-03-09T02:13:00.000-06:00

My friend Vanda (as Zatanna) and Sarah at the 2009 Central Canada Comic Con (which is now owned by Wizard)

Since today is the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, I thought I'd tip my hat to my favorite cartoonists that just happen to be female:

Jen Wang: This was my introduction to her work. I LOVE the way she draws hands. Go pick up her book, Koko Be Good. It's pretty sweet!
Kate Beaton: No one in the comics biz makes me laugh more than this lady. No one. If you're not yet familiar with Hark, A Vagrant, prepare to laugh your ass off...about historical stuff! And Nancy Drew!
Danielle Corsetto: The day I discovered Danielle's Girls with Slingshots, I went through the site's archives and read every strip. There was something compelling about the characters she created and the way she drew them. Reading GWS is a very fun part of my nightly web-surfin' ritual.
Yuko Ota: Yuko is the drawrin' half of the Johnny Wander comic team. Charm and skill flows from her pen (and whatever other tool she happens to be using). See what I mean via her Tumblr blog.
Kelly Turnbull: Remember that set of cool tutorials and drawing advice in my last post? They're hers! I'm relatively new to her comic Manly Guys Doing Manly Things, but it was a hoot for me from the get-go.
Becky Cloonan: When I first saw Becky's work via gigposters.com, I was not only blown away, but I also had no idea that she was already a name in comics. You're gonna want to keep tabs on what she's doing, so check her blog out.
Jess Fink: Before it became a Top Shelf release (droppin' in May, y'all!), Jess published her entire Chester 5000 comic online, and I'll be the first to tell you that it's an amazing and captivating erotic love story. Don't be surprised if you sweat a little while you read it. Read some of her other stuff at her site.
Liz Suburbia: Been keeping tabs on Liz's Sacred Heart comic via her LJ. It's SO good. Her clear line style is so tight, and I wasn't a partygoer in high school, but her depiction of an out-of-control house party makes me feel like I've been there before.
Liz Prince: This Liz does cute, loose comics about the single life, cats, and punk. Endlessly endearing.
Jill Thompson: This woman slays with watercolor, f'real. Go to her blog and see for yourself. She's responsible for the thing of beauty that is Beasts of Burden (with the awesome Evan Dorkin), and she's quite a wrestling fan, too! (Bryan Danielson/Daniel Bryan is among her admirers)

Tips and Processes!

2011-03-03T02:13:00.000-06:00

The making of the Western Confrontation diptych. Go here for the rest of the pics.

Going through my Google Reader items recently (a daily ritual), I found a bunch of links worth sharing that kinda fell under the "tips/processes/how I pulled this off" banner.

The making of Scott C.'s Twin Peaks piece for the 20th anniversary show
Veronica Fish's review of manga supplies
Kelly Turnbull of Manly Guys Doing Manly Things give you a shitload of drawing advice and hits you off with four tutorials
Ryan A. shares the process behind his comic Nothing Is Forgotten
Dustin Harbin schools you on the Ames Lettering Guide

Go forth, and use the knowledge I've bestowed you with wisely.

We're Effin' With a Bunch of Videos!

2011-02-28T19:54:00.002-06:00

Rod sets up the blueprint melêé. July 9, 2010.

Initially, I had this set up as a "Random Things" blog post with a ton of videos, but since Yy's new clip dropped today, I figured I should change it up. Last summer (Holy shit! Time flies), I was asked to participate in the filming of Yy's "Who's Effin' With Me" by mcenroe himself, and I was more than happy to be involved. It's no secret that Peanuts & Corn is one of my favorite labels, and that the roster are all homies of mine. This was a lot of fun to do, and it shows in the vid. Thanks, Rod! Check it out!

Go here for the rest of the rest of the shots I took that night. Yy's Tape It Back Together is out now, and you can get it at the P & C site, or on iTunes.

Here's a crapload of other videos I hope you'll enjoy!

Yy's "I Got That Treason"

The Demographic's "Reducer"

The Lytics' "Last Bit (Lovely Words)"

Wab Kinew's "Good Boy" (feat. Troy Westwood & Lorenzo)

Speed Dial 7's "Poker Faces II" (feat. Pip Skid & Nomad)

Pip Skid's "I Never Knew"

Pip Skid's "Tens of Dollars"

Pip Skid's "Tens of Dollars" (WFG/SNA version)

Nestor Wynrush's "Enida Watts"

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before, but I know folks that make really good music. I'm in a sharing mood.

The Lytics Tour Send-off Poster

2011-02-10T03:18:00.000-06:00

This turned out better than I thought it would. Maybe I say that too much, but it's true!
At the last minute, I decided not to draw a bird wearing a fitted at the bottom of the poster (I've been thinking about how dope 123Klan's work is, and that would've been too much of a nod to them for my taste).
I think I made the right decision. Click the poster for the link to its Flickr page, which has info on the performers.

Ready For His Close-Up

2011-02-03T03:14:00.000-06:00

Dante, as photographed by my homie, Jeope Wolfe. You rule, sir.
I look at this face with a mix of awe, pride and disbelief every day. It doesn't get any better than that.

Oh, look...the other shoe dropped!

2011-01-20T00:03:00.000-06:00

Naylor Parking Lot, January 2011.

Well, the lot pictured above will cease to be a familiar sight for me as of next month. What started with a rather ominous and puzzling email sent to the evening staff, ended with our jobs cut.
I should be bummed (and I am, a little), but I'm cautiously optimistic about the future. I've got an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and re-evaluate my goals. Maybe I'll get that face tat I've always wanted.

Guess who's gotta write a resume? (raises hand)

Birthday #36

2011-01-11T03:14:00.000-06:00

Me, at Hu's Asian Bistro - January 8th, 2011.

If I've learned anything from the previous birthday, it's that your born day is best spent away from work. That may be an incriminating statement, but I'd be saying that if I were the head sleeper at the mattress factory that resides in my brain.
Can't say that I'm in the best frame of mind right now (really, when am I ever?), but I do have to keep in mind that I've got it pretty damn good.

1.11.11. Here's to me, I guess. (Raises a can of Pepsi Max)

Al's Resolutions and 2010 Random Thoughts

2011-01-01T16:18:00.000-06:00

Resolutions
The usual. They revolve around health and creativity.

Health: Eating better, exercising regularly. I'm not totally committed to this mentally yet, but it's in the back of my mind. I'm mainly doing it for me, but I do have a wife and kid to be around for, so yeah...I'm doing it for them, too. I'll have to re-establish Friday as my "cheat day" and be good for the rest of the week. My father-in-law is apparently committed to "de-chunking" this year, so this may become a family thing.

Creativity: Although I've done a handful of things, I feel like I've been play-acting at the illustration thing. This year, I'm making some moves. It starts with rituals and commitment: creating something every day. Drawing something – anything – everyday. And if I'm not drawing, I should be writing, or taking pictures. On the picture front, my wife got me a Fisheye 2 for Christmas, and I'm stoked! It feels kinda weird to be using film again, but I welcome it.
Getting back to the ritual thing, I gotta straighten up my workspace regularly. A clean spot to work is healthy. So yeah...nose to the grindstone and all that.
Bonus links - Great Illustration Resources:
Escape From Illustration Island | Zero 2 Illo | Holli Conger's Illustration Tips

2010 Random Thoughts

Dante. Needless to say, he was the highlight of my year. He's wonderful. And my wife gets my undying love for working so hard to bring him into this world. 2011 is going to be full of discovery and landmarks for all three of us. I can feel it.
Online By The Numbers. In 2010, I reached my eighth anniversary of running this here blog, nine years of being on gigposters.com, and 15 years since my introduction to the web. Crazy.
Travel. The Minneapolis trip at the beginning of the year ruled. I saw friends, and ate a lot. I also decided that on my 40th birthday – or at least the year of – I have to be in Japan, either with the family or on my own. Goals are good thing.
Looks like we might be heading to Calgary in a few months. Fingers crossed!
Masticators. I launched a food blog with two homies that love food as much as I do. We started slow, but I see us writing even more stuff and having fun in the process. Full steam ahead!
Jazz Fest. I had a blast. Can they top it this year? We'll see!
T-shirts. I predict that I'll be buying a lot more shirts. I guess that's not really a prediction. Got some good ones in 2010. Formula Werks, DDC...you'll be hearing from me.

Al's Favorite Posters/Art Prints/Whatever of 2010

2011-01-01T04:47:00.000-06:00

Posters: (headliner | designer/illustrator - where applicable)
The Soft Pack - Jay Ryan
Circa Survive - Kevin Tong
Lucero - James Flames
Man...Or Astroman? - Jay Ryan
Golden Rule Poster - Studio On Fire
The National - Guy Burwell
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Jake Kelly
Cap'n Jazz - Landland
Black Keys - Tyler Stout
Aziz Ansari (the burger one) - Invisible Creature
Flight of the Conchords - Little Friends of Printmaking
The Hold Steady - Guy Burwell
Justin Townes Earle - Guy Burwell
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Jake Kelly
Ultra°off - Bomboland
A Wilhelm Scream - Derek Deal
Mondo Generator - David "DWITT" Witt
Snoop Dogg - Tricia Kleinot Make Do And Mend - Justin Santora
Squeeze - Scrojo
Bottomless Pit - Jay Ryan
Joe Pug - Modern Anthem
Mountain Goats - Rich Kelly
Del the Funky Homosapien - David "DWITT" Witt
Gene Ween - T-Bone & Aljaxx
Pavement - Lil' Tuffy
Kings of Leon - Invisible Creature
RPM Vintage Toys - Rockin' Jelly Bean
Justin Townes Earle - Guy Burwell
Isis/Baroness - Aaron Horkey
La Roux - Spike Press
Wonder Years - James Heimer
Joe Pernice - Guy Burwell

Art Prints:
The second Jay Ryan/Aaron Horkey print
The Jay Ryan/Dan McCarthy Screens n' Spokes print
"Midwestern Heart" by Aaron Horkey
"Street Ministry (RIP Guru) by Dave Kinsey
"Typographic Sins" by Jim Godfrey
The first Jay Ryan/Aaron Horkey print
"Pink Moon" by Dan McCarthy
"Treehousewarming" by Meg Hunt
"The Final Battle" by Eric Tan

Whatever:
The Richard Buckner concert ticket by The Half and Half
Jessie & Tyler's wedding stuff (click through the slide show, it's all good)

Al's Haphazard 2010 Best Music List

2010-12-31T19:22:00.000-06:00

Top 5 Albums

The Black Keys' Brothers
This is the perfect melding of their earlier albums and the previous one they did with Danger Mouse. Polished, yet raw. And Michael Carney's packaging is dope. I'm hoping he gets a Grammy for this!

The Roots' How I Got Over
This is The Roots' most uplifting album and the first in a while I didn't feel obligated to like, just because they're The Roots. It's just GOOD. Secret weapon: Dice Raw. His sung vocals on the title track and "Now or Never" were surprisingly quite good and one of the many highlights for me.
The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion's Controversial Negro
Look, I know this is a reissue. This is my list, hombre, and I'll put what I want on it! Anyway...I've been wanting to listen to this for more than a decade, so I was overjoyed when I found out that Shout Factory was releasing it. This live album (with killer bonus tracks) encompasses everything I love about the Blues Explosion. It's sexy, sweaty, and more rock n' roll than you can handle.
Shad's TSOL
Folks who don't even like rap, like Shad. That's pretty fucking cool. He's a clean cut, God-fearing emcee that can still slap the taste out of a wack rapper's mouth. I'm kinda bummed that he didn't win the Polaris Prize, but the fact remains that he's put out one of the best Canadian rap recordings ever.
Pip Skid's Skid Row
Full disclosure: Pip is a homie, and I handled the design for this album. With that said, I'm also a fan, and I think this album is brilliant. Kutdown laced this with bangin' beats, and Pip brought his trademark vitriol to the table. Nothing else really needs to be said, man. It's outstanding.

Also Worth Mentioning...

Guilty Simpson's Ghettodes
This was a free download of Oh No-remixed Ode To The Ghetto tracks from Stones Throw, and I would've gladly paid for it. Sadly, I liked this more than his OJ Simpson album with Madlib (too many interludes, Mr. Jackson!).
Nestor Wynrush Ensemble's So High From The Lo
I was there the night this was recorded, and it was a lot of fun. Glad to have a document of it!

Albums I Should've Spent More Time With

The Sadies' Darker Circles
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings' I Learned The Hard Way
Greg MacPherson's Mr. Invitation
Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Albums I Should've Bought

LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening
Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)
Big Boi's Sir Lucious Left Foot

Regarding these last two lists: I'm not perfect (I know, you're surprised). I moved and I became a dad. Music kinda took a backseat. Also, I gotta keep up with wrestling and all of these podcasts I've downloaded to won't listen to themselves (yet they still pile up!). I can't forget all of these blogs trying to get in my ear, telling me about the hottest shit and slipping me leaked tracks. I'm only one (attractive) man!

It ain't gonna get any easier next year.

Boxing Day Haul

2010-12-28T03:16:00.000-06:00

I'm a simple man with simple needs. In addition to admiring squirrels, eating fatty foods, and enjoying large behinds, I like bound pages with lots of cool fucking pictures.
All of these were purchased at Comics America at 40% off. From top to bottom:

The Jackson 500 Volume Four by Tim Biskup
Peepo Choo Vol. 2 by Felipe Smith
The Professional: Golgo 13 DVD
Shenanigans by Ian Shaughnessy and Mike Holmes
The Ice Wanderer and other stories by Jiro Taniguchi
Lucky In Love Book One by George Chieffet and Stephen DeStefano
Motel Art Improvement Service by Jason Little
From The Ashes by Bob Fingerman
Strange Tales II, Number 3
King City, Issue 12
Illustration Magazine #31
Illustration Magazine #30
Bent by Dave Cooper

I also headed to McNally with Dante and Sarah and bought some magazines (plus the reissued Crumb and The Snowy Day for Dante).

BOXING DAY!

2010-12-26T02:14:00.000-06:00

Boxing Day: Polo Park's Centre Court, 2006.

The day I look forward to all year! My plan so far: Advance Electronics at 7 a.m., Comics America at 9 a.m.
Why Advance? I want a turntable! It's been too long. We'll see if I get one.
Comics America? The usual. From my brief look at the flier in their window tonight, it's 40% off of everything this year. Can't front on that.
Before you say anything, I'm aware of my boycott earlier this year. I've backpedaled, somewhat. I wasn't entirely committed to it when I posted it. I've shopped there, but not as much as I could have. My money has gone to Amazon and McNally whenever possible. The fact remains though, that they carry everything. And to their credit, they've reduced the amount of dust-gathering toys and added better shelving in one section, thereby (hopefully) reducing the amount of wreckage from all the usual piles of bullshit.
With all of that said, today should be fun. If I still have some energy and cash, I think I'll hit up McNally with my gift card. There are wayward art books and magazines that need a home.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T15:26:00.000-06:00

My son is unaware of Christmas, but he does deserve a little slack.
He's only been around for six weeks. All the best to you and yours!

Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt

2010-12-21T03:00:00.001-06:00

Panty & Stocking With Garterbelt is the latest series from Gainax (famous for such titles as the FLCL series* and the feature-length film Wings of Honneamise). It's profane, often disgusting, perhaps even a little sacrilegious...and a whole lot of fun.
I'm sure this sounds rather naive to you, but it's rather cool that a currently-running Japanese animated series is so readily available here in North America. Gone are the days when one would have to wait for Adult Swim or Teletoon to bring a dope anime show over. Now, it's up to you: you can watch it on YouTube illegally, or get with Crunchyroll and watch with a clear conscience (and a few commercials).
Of course, you could also hit up a torrent, you fuckin' pirate.
EDIT: All due props to Labyrinth for introducing me to the show!

*I just found out that Funimation will be carrying the long out-of-print series on DVD. I'm all happy n' shit!

Quintron & Miss Pussycat - June 27th, 2010

2010-12-16T00:13:00.000-06:00

A terrific show that not enough people saw, which kinda pisses me off. Whatever.

Videos From Some Homies Of Mine

2010-11-28T02:00:00.000-06:00

The Gumshoe Strut's "On The Move"
I mentioned this in October, and it's good enough to mention again! Download the EP!

mcenroe's "Keeping The Faith"
I do believe this is my favorite joint off of The Paper Champion.

Instagram

2010-11-27T16:51:00.000-06:00

What can I say? It's fun to use. Check it out. Here are the shots I've taken so far.

Whacked!

2010-11-20T22:55:00.001-06:00

I've been watching Whacked from the get-go, and loving it. It's described as "Abbott and Costello meet The Sopranos", and I couldn't agree more. Fellow GP member Kirk Diedrich plays Vinny.
This one's my favorite:

Visit vinnyandtony.com for more info.

Dante David Thor Lorde: The Fact Sheet

2010-11-18T20:41:00.001-06:00

The little man in his hospital-provided toque (uh..."woolen hat" for those of you outside of Canada).

Full Name: Dante David Thor Lorde
Born: November 12th, 2010 at 2:00 PM. Right on time, and two weeks late.
Parents: Sarah and Allan Lorde
Vital Stats:
Weight: 8 lbs., 12 oz. | Length: 20¾ inches
Temperament: Mellow. Becomes agitated when hungry, like his old man. Working on the sleeping thing. This kid's got a weird internal clock.
Name Breakdown:
Dante: Dante's namesake is legendary rap insider Dante Ross. I first heard him mentioned in De La Soul's classic debut 3 Feet High and Rising, specifically on the skit "Can U Keep a Secret?" ("Dante is a scrub!") As a 14 year-old kid, I though "Dante" was a pretty cool name, and it stuck with me. I'm glad Sarah thought it was pretty cool, too. For the record, I found out about Dante Alighieri a few years later.
Fun fact: Mr. Ross is represented in the 3 Feet High and Rising liner notes as a talking duck with a brush cut. Awesome.
David: Carrying on the tradition – there are three Davids in the McCulloch family, and it's also the middle name of Sarah's father.
Thor: This one's for Sarah's mom. She had suggested it for years, half-jokingly. We thought, "why not?" There are Swedes in Sarah's family. Norse mythology in the house!

P.S.: The pesticide and wrestling connotations in his initials (D.D.T.) are no accident. I won't lie...it made us laugh a little. It's a built-in nickname! J.R.R. Tolkien crossed my mind a few times, too.
Bonus link: Dante Ross talks about a Ol' Dirty Bastard/LL Cool J collab that never got off the ground. Classic!

Barbra, Burton, and Me

2010-11-10T01:09:00.000-06:00

You know about that Duck Sauce joint "Barbra Streisand", right? You don't?
Watch this, then come back here.

Ah, you're back. Dope vid, eh?

Now, give this version a spin:

Barbara Streisand (Co-op & Hunnicutt Winnipeg Edit) by DJ Hunnicutt

It's the Winnipeg edit, brought to you by my homies Co-op and Hunnicutt.
Hunnicutt ran into Sarah and myself at Kimich'i On Albert a few weeks ago, and he asked me to contribute. I was more than happy to.
Download it and dance with yerself.
Also, check out Co-op's free instrumental EP, Nice Work If You Can Get It, on Marathon of Dope! 19:44 of goodness. FOR FREE!

A Dubious And Tenuous Connection For The Greater Good

2010-11-05T01:58:00.000-05:00

Some friends of mine and I have been having a conversation for the past few days via Facebook about blackface during Halloween, and how fucked up it is (at any time of the year, not just October the 31st). I mentioned on a related note how I'd like to dress as Rastus, the Cream of Wheat mascot someday. This needs to happen.
Anyway, this was somewhat fresh on my mind when Wordburglar's "Cream of Wheat" came up randomly on my iPod this evening. That made me smile.
Good music and cultural mockery shouldn't be mentioned within the same breath, I know this; but I'll use any excuse to show you this cool video:

Lemonade...Detroit style.

2010-10-29T02:39:00.001-05:00

I found out about this film via a Twitter post by Aaron Draplin, and if you act now, you can buy a piece of it. This sounds like a project I can get behind.

I've got a lot of love for Detroit. No, I've never been there, but I've felt a tenuous kinship to the city since we got TV from there for nearly 10 years. Also, I see a few parallels between Peg City and Detroit. Maybe I'll elaborate in another blog post.

At any rate, give this trailer a look. It lifted my spirit a little.

iTunes Canada's Serious Defect

2010-10-25T01:46:00.000-05:00

[melodramatic]Canuck iTunes is broken. You know why? LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out isn't available for purchase. Neither is Walking With A Panther, but I'm getting ahead of myself...the fact that his finest moment on wax isn't legally available on the digital juggernaut is a travesty of musical justice. If things were right in the world, I should be able to have "Eat Em Up L Chill" and "To Da Break of Dawn" come up randomly on my iPod, so I can bug out at my fucking cubicle. iTunes Canada...do you really like me to be sad? Apparently, you do. Your omission of this album and Walking With A Panther kills my (natural) high, dawg. And what's up with keeping 14 Shots To The Dome around? Nobody likes that fucking album! It's quite clear that you have a hate-on for me, and I don't know what I did to deserve this kind of treatment. I'm so done with you after I buy this exclusive iTunes Session with the Black Keys.[/melodramatic]

Kanye's Runaway

2010-10-25T00:52:00.000-05:00

I watched this a couple of hours ago, and I kinda liked it. Yeah, there were some goofy moments, but there were some dope tunes and a ton of explosions. I can't get mad at that.

After watching this, I couldn't help but compare this to the work of Matthew Barney. At that moment, I realized I've never actually watched a full Matthew Barney film, but I've seen plenty of stills; many perplexing stills. So...I hit YouTube, and watched several lengthy clips from the Cremaster Cycle and Drawing Restraint 9. Mind-boggling shit. So, my comparison to Barney's work isn't warranted, really. Kanye's symbolism is easy to interpret (his chick is a phoenix, and he's smothering her. Phoenixes gotta burn, homie!), while you need a series of charts, diagrams, and Coles Notes to figure out what the fuck is going on in the Cremaster Cycle...and there's a good chance you'd still be wrong.

Man, those explosions were cool.

Random Thoughts: October 20th, 2010

2010-10-20T04:27:00.002-05:00

The Wrestling Ring, by fellow Flickr user Podknox. Used under a CC Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Three ropes, fool. I can't tell you how pissed off I get when I see illustrated depictions of wrestling rings with two or four ropes, and I do believe I saw two examples recently.* It really speaks to the importance of having reference around, and a simple Google image search should kill any doubts you may have. Now, having said this, you now have free reign to call me out on the next thing I fuck up graphically. However, there's a chance I actually did my research, so the error can be chalked up to ineptitude.
So, get it straight, chump: three ropes = wrestling ring, four ropes = boxing ring.
Two ropes? I seriously don't know what the hell that is.
Lack of Francais. I was listening to A Propos on Saturday, remembering the time I made my elementary school French teacher cry.
No, I'm not boasting. It's one of the many regrets I have.
She overheard me expressing my frustrations with learning the language, and how I didn't plan on taking it in high school. She lost it. My imposing sixth grade teacher (he's the tall Belgian in the photo Jeope is holding) made damn sure I apologized to her in front of everybody the following day. If I remember correctly, I did take French in junior high, but didn't for the latter years.
Years later, I can say searching for female nudity on CBWFT during my youth cultivated an appreciation of French cinema**, even though I have to read the subtitles, which I don't really mind. It'd be cool to understand it a little more beyond the handful of words I know, though. Sometimes, I think it'd be dope to try and re-learn it, but I'm still trying to remember all of the Japanese stuff I've forgotten.
Don't sleep on Winnipeg. There's a lot of good shit coming through before the end of the year, rap-wise. You already know mcenroe dropped a tight EP. You should also be aware that Yy's new full-length will be coming in December. And via the good folks at Marathon of Dope:
- The Gumshoe Strut's Too Long In The Tooth will be available November 2nd. He had a release show on the 15th of this month, compete with physical copies of the EP, and I can tell you that it's very good. It's about being broke down and ragged, so I can totally relate. For the moment, check out this dope video he shot for "On The Move". Man, I love that beat!
- Birdapres' got some raw shit for ya. This sounds serious, y'all. Of course, I'd expect nothing else from Bird. I'm stoked!
- John Smith's collab with producer Murdock, It's True Because It Rhymes, is finally seeing the light of day. I've been bugging both of them for so long about this album's release date, that the interlude I appeared on ended up being a cruel joke, so it got dropped.*** All of that doesn't matter, because people need to hear this shit. For the moment, read homie's bio and stay tuned.
That's a tidy, jam-packed list that'll keep tongues wagging throughout 2011. Don't front.
Covered/Repaneled. Covered: Classic/not-so-classic comic covers re-imagined. Repaneled: Same concept as Covered, except individual panels get the treatment. Both rule very hard.

*I won't link to them, because I'm classy. And, uh...I can't remember where I saw them.
**Playtime is one of my favorite films. There's no nudity in it.

Potent Quotes

2010-10-07T04:12:00.000-05:00

"... I one day expect to find him perched on my couch prattling on about Oxo bouillion cubes or something."

– Illustrator Rod Filbrandt on Douglas Coupland.

"At least pornography has a function."

– Steve Albini on fashion. This GQ interview he did is typically acidic.

Random Thoughts: September 22nd, 2010

2010-09-22T04:55:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my wife, I have curtains in the workspace.

Paper Champion! mcenroe's The Paper Champion EP is now available via the Peanuts & Corn site, iTunes, and eMusic. It's great to have him doing rap shit again, and that's no disrespect to his Edge of Town album (which I enjoyed quite a bit). I'm telling you right now...I can't listen to "Gearing Up For Getting Down" without wincing a little, as it's about being an aging hip-hopper. I'm happy to say that Rod is far more positive about getting older than I am, so while it hits home, it's also a fine example of acceptance. You'd best cop this. Do something good with your life for once!
The best Who tribute by an emcee goes to... Another EP of note is Blueprint's Who. I wrote a lil' something about it at my other blog. Favorite track? "Pain". He used the same beat on the equally ill "Cold Out Here" and married it with the "Won't Get Fooled Again" organ break. 'Print writes shit that I can relate to, and his verse on that joint is proof positive.

On a related note, can I say how much I like Bandcamp and how I wish more folks would use it? The design is slick, the sound is top notch, and I can properly preview an album before I buy it. Take Ghettosocks' Treat of the Day: I've been meaning to cop this for ages. Holding out hope, I've been looking for the album at various local outlets to no avail. Yeah, I could order it from one of them, but I have to admit that I'm a little burnt out on the special order thing, as it doesn't feel special anymore (yeah, I went there. Stop groaning!). And this is from a guy that still favors the physical product over a (legal) download. Amazon kinda took the fun out of that by getting it to me faster than they would.
But I digress...I can get both the digital download and CD of 'Socks TOTD right from his Bandcamp spot, and preview/download tracks from his Teenburger and Twin Peaks projects. Snazzy.
Patton Oswalt Talks About This Age We Live In. Here's his quote in GQ, as posted by comic dude Dean Trippe. I agree. I reblogged it and added an observation here (where else?). With that said, I do miss the '90s...just a little bit.
Tough Design Love (NSFW). Good Fucking Design Advice. I downloaded the "Stop fucking procrastinating" desktops for my Mac and iPhone. They're effective shame tools.
Props to Aaron Draplin for the heads up on the link.
Massimo Vignelli Ain't Boastin', He's Truthin'. While working last night, I heard a terrific interview with design legend Massimo Vignelli via the Design Matters podcast (conducted by the lovely Debbie Millman). Through school, I was aware of his work, but I don't think I was really aware of the man until I saw Helvetica. I can't really recall the last time I heard a man so sure of his skill, and it comes through in this interview. He can back it all up though, unlike a million people I could mention. Watch him expand on his belief that we use too many typefaces. He uses no more than three or four, while I'm often looking to use something other than Trade Gothic Bold Condensed No. 20. Is it bad that I downloaded The Vignelli Canon (grab it here) a year ago and merely flipped through it? I should cop the print version when it drops.

Random Thoughts: September 16th, 2010

2010-09-16T04:42:00.001-05:00

Inspiration station, before and after. Photos taken July 11/14, 2010.

A Synopsis. Been busy. Work has been a mix of frustration and tiny victories. I'd elaborate, but that'd be really fucking boring (and the last thing I want to do is incriminate myself). Baby room-wise, things are coming together, in addition to making the rest of the house comfy. I've posted progress pics of my workspace's transformation here. I have to admit...I've really been pissed at myself ever since I discovered my drawing desk is actually backward. Seems I need to spend more time at it! Fuck. On a related note, Veronica Hebard has a dope workspace. Natural light, cool trinkets, stuff on the walls...I've got everything except that last one.
Afflicted with Tumblritis. Currently, a lot of my writing takes place at my other blog, Mr. Lorde Should Be Drawing – that is if you can call it writing. Via the power of reblogging, I often find myself making sure folks know who certain artists and models are, because I'm all about attribution, and a lot of folks using Tumblr are not. Being older than your average Tumblr user, I feel like an iconoclast swimming against a wave of entitlement. As maddening as that sounds, I really do enjoy it. It's the immediacy of it all, I guess. In the three or so hours it takes me to write a simple Blogger-based post, I can say a whole more with a video or photo and a few explanatory lines in Tumblrland. I'm not ready to drop The Place Where Al Dwells yet, but some things might have to change. I think I'm one of those things.
Speaking of blogs... Did I mention my wife started one? She's off to a great start. For the record, she feels the same way I do about some of the parenthood advice we received a while ago. My missive wasn't unilateral.
An End to the Whingeing. In an earlier draft of this entry, I was going to continue bitching in the style of the aforementioned blog post, but I think it's time to dead that. Instead, I'd like to shout-out the folks who gave me solid, real, down-to-earth advice when Sarah and I announced that we were expecting. I'm eternally grateful.
John Smith's "I'm Rollerblading!" I was just re-listening to Blunderbus, or "In Transit" and got to the controversial "I'm Rollerblading!" (apparently, skating diehards weren't too fond of this joint), and I wondered when ESPN decided to drop inline skating from the X Games. According to Wikipedia and other sources, 2005 was the year. I was wondering why I hadn't heard Arlo Eisenberg's name for a while.
This Kids In The Hall sketch was inspiration for that track, by the way.
All Things Garage-y. About a week ago, I finished reading Eric Davidson's We Never Learn, and it was truly a joy to flip through. Even though I had only reached the 33rd page, I decided to give the book a healthy nod via Tumblr reblog last month.
Masticators! I started a food blog with my homies Evan and Mark last month. I don't think I'll ever run out of things to write. I think I'm gonna whip up a couple of post drafts as soon as I'm done with this. They've been stewin' in the noggin a little too long. In the meantime, holler at us via Twitter.

An Open Letter To The Guy Who Sat Beside Me At The 10:10 Showing Of Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

2010-08-16T01:28:00.000-05:00

Thanks for eventually shutting up.
Y'know...after I pointed out that I wasn't interested in what you had to say.
I drew the line after "why does everything have to be so epic?"
Your idiocy knows no bounds and your friends are just as stupid for hanging out with you.
Dick.

Your pal,
Allan Lorde

Wynrush, soso, and Bowen Poster

2010-08-05T00:56:00.000-05:00

I'm really happy with how this turned out. My new neighbourhood provided the necessary inspiration.

mcenroe's "Whoa"

2010-08-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

A taste of what's coming.

The Nestor Wynrush Ensemble poster

2010-07-20T01:35:00.000-05:00

August 6th, y'all! Should be a fun night.
Poster design and photo by lil' ol' me. I'll get to posting the original photo on Flickr someday soon.

R.I.P. Ryan August

2010-07-14T02:28:00.000-05:00

I just found out that Ryan August of I Want Your Skull passed away on July 11th. I'm stunned. I really wished I had met him in person. He encouraged me to contribute to the first issue of IWYS, and the result is above. Anytime I saw a new issue or a blog post with amazing skull-themed artwork, I felt bad that I didn't draw skulls regularly, and I still do. I'm just thankful that I was able to be involved in a project that got better with each issue. He pushed the quality every time, as did the people that provided the content.
Wherever you're at right now, Ryan, I know you're kicking ass in some fashion. R.I.P.

My Jazz Fest 2010 Photos

2010-07-10T04:26:00.000-05:00

The Slew – July 1st, 2010

Some of the best shows I've ever seen were part of this year's TD Jazz Winnipeg Festival. I plan on telling my son or daughter about The Roots show someday. The photos can be found here.

Adventures In Album Cover Design

2010-07-09T04:38:00.000-05:00

This thread is comedy gold. Don't take your album design too lightly. Noyz's post pretty much sums up where Infinite P went very wrong:

Original: http://layoutsparks.com/1/232393/moonlight-tropics-night-view.html
✓ Google "moonlight" and steal one of the first images that come up
✓ Fuck up the aspect ration by squishing instead of cropping
✓ Add a second moon/lens-flare because the other fake one wasn't big enough
✓ Add Smoke without basic photoshop skills
✓ Add Parental Advisory logo for spiritual reasons
The even sadder thing is, I bet this cover took you at least a month to make.

Classic.

Johnny Wander – you should read it.

2010-07-06T04:21:00.000-05:00

I tend to get a feeling about certain webcomics when I'm introduced to them. If I get that feeling, I'll read it from the very beginning in one shot, no matter how many installments there are.
That's happened three times:

In 2002, a friend introduced me to Sinfest. I ended up reading two years of strips in one night, and I've been a fan ever since.
Almost two years ago, I discovered Girls With Slingshots and read four years of strips in one night! Needless to say, it was compelling.
Tonight, via a GWS guest spot, I found out about Johnny Wander, by Ananth Panagariya and Yuko Ota. It's very slice-of-life and hilarious. Did I mention that Yuko can draw her ass off? I'm already in love with this comic.

BNL-fueled Nostalgia

2010-07-02T15:48:00.000-05:00

I'll admit it...I own The Yellow Tape. A lot of folks I knew back then did, too.
I just came in from work and heard a CBC concert featuring The Barenaked Ladies performing their very popular cover of Bruce Cockburn's "Lovers In A Dangerous Time" with Bruce himself. I suddenly remembered how I loved to watch the above video every chance I got (Much had it in heavy rotation back in the day).

For those of you unaware or too young to know, the record store in the video was part of the defunct A&A Records chain. I can't remember where any of the Winnipeg locations were.

I was going to say more stuff, but my sinuses are killing my ass, so my thoughts have evaporated. I'll leave you with this: to me, Steven Page will always be that guy that was in Barenaked Ladies, and the Barenaked Ladies will always be that band that Steven Page was in.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World Game Trailer

2010-06-12T03:48:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I'll be needing this. The villains pay off in loonies and toonies!
The man behind the look and feel of the game is Paul Robertson. I mentioned him here a little while ago.

The Clifton Santiago Honeymoon Suite...

2010-06-12T02:51:00.000-05:00

...aka my new workspace. It's taking shape slowly. Gotta hang some posters up in this motherfucker, and soon! Not before I unpack these boxes that are taking up a third of the room. Bleh.

Unformatted Random Thoughts: June 3rd, 2010

2010-06-03T10:40:00.000-05:00

Just moved into the new house, currently setting up my studio. An outlet that only takes two prong plugs is fucking my plans up. I'll survive.
No Internet until Friday morning — this post was generated via iPhone. I must locate my modem.
The grass out back is thicker than Trump's wack-ass hairpiece.
On a wrestling note: I can't help but wonder who's going to win The Best Of The Super Juniors tournament. Tiger Mask IV is out of the running due to a neck injury, and who knows how long Prince Devitt's knee will hold out.
Another wrestling note: this new season of NXT sounds fucking terrible.
A musical note (HA!): Shad's new album is amazing. You should buy it and make your life better.

Best Of The Super Juniors

2010-05-27T05:18:00.001-05:00

The video above is a compilation of every Top Of/Best Of The Super Juniors tournament final, from 1988 to 2009. Before watching this, I was familiar with a handful of the matches; regardless, I was gobsmacked throughout the entire 12:58 of this vid. My favorite? The El Samurai/Koji Kanemoto match, which you can find at the 2:57 mark. The shit they were doing was insane.

This comp also contains footage of Chris Benoit (as Wild Pegasus) winning two of the tournaments. This is the first time I've been able to watch anything Benoit-related without wincing. Look closely, and you'll see other gaijin talent, like Fit Finlay, Scorpio, Dean Malenko, and Eddie Guerrero. Actually, you won't have to look too hard for Eddie...that's him beating Jushin Liger as Black Tiger in 1996 (at the 2:19 mark).

The 2010 edition is only days away, and among the participants is Winnipegger Kenny Omega. His tag team partner, Kota Ibushi, is also a participant. As opponents, they're no strangers to each other. Guaranteed, there won't be any "going outside" shit in the tournament.

Bonus stuff: watch the 2009 final between Kanemoto and Prince Devitt. It's amazing. Adam and Mike of F4W's Big Audio Nightmare figure Devitt will probably win this thing. I'm inclined to agree, as Devitt has been shut out of the tournament two years in a row due to injury, only to lose in the match above. It may be logical to give him the rub here. Part of me wants Davey Richards to win. That dude is a serious bad-ass.

More bonus stuff: I'm a big fan of the Tumblr blog FUCK YEAH WRESTLING! (I'm not yelling...that's their name.) Random articles, photos, and videos – all wrestling. I'm happy to have contributed some items to the site.

The Paper Champion

2010-05-20T03:35:00.000-05:00

Many thanks to mcenroe for the EP cover. Looks dope!

Via mcenroe's Twitter:

Finished the rap mix of "The Paper Champion", my new EP. Now doing crazy dubbed out mixes for the bonus disc.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to this. After his killer mixtape/album Mastermind, and his criminally slept-upon synth pop recording Edge of Town, there's been a bit of a gap between P & C releases. But he's addressed that. When will this come out? Only Rod knows. Keep your ears open.

Random Thoughts: May 17th, 2010

2010-05-17T05:31:00.000-05:00

Friday's brunch.

Changes are afoot. In about a week or so, I'll be an uncle. In two weeks, I'll be a homeowner. Come late October, I'll be a dad. In-fucking-sanity.
Output. Creativity has slowed to a mere trickle, if you can call it that. With the impending move, the living room is full of boxes, so I'm even less inclined to do stuff. On Friday, my drawing desk was dismantled for easier transport. Factor in my scattered/dark state of mind, I've been the very picture of inertia. So, how have I been getting my kicks? Well, through impulsive writing/blogging/whatever via this blog, Twitter, and this blog's offspring (which is actually dedicated to rapid sharing and half-thoughts). And I'm alright with this. I'll get back to drawing. The creativity/consumption balance will be restored in good time.
Philip Lumbang Obey Sketch. Check it out. It's from his days of working with Mr. Fairey. Nice, eh? Quite a contrast from his bear-centric spreading of happiness, which is also pretty damn nice. Check out his work here.
Safeway In Winnipeg. The history of Safeway in Winnipeg at West End Dumplings in four parts, with copious pictures – start here. I've been meaning to link this up for a while now, because it's just so damn interesting. Props to Christian Cassidy for his dedication and research. Be sure to check out his other blog, This Was Winnipeg, and his Flickr photostream.

GIVEAWAY!

2010-05-15T15:21:00.001-05:00

The Epson color printer that used to be mine.

It's Giveaway Weekend! There's something fascinating about watching folks go through stuff that used to be yours. Before putting this printer out on the corner, I placed a box of assorted stuff out there first. Two people walked off with stuff while I watched from the second floor landing. That right there is tailored entertainment value. One of the two people came back for the printer, and I decided to stop watching until dusk. We'll see if there's anything left!
Best part? Two turkey-shaped items (a salt shaker and a napkin holder) = GONE.

This was prefaced by joining a long-ass lineup for a discounted compost bin and a rain collector across from Silver City Polo Park. Both are now in our living room.

Stop Draggin' My Heart Around

2010-05-12T05:05:00.000-05:00

You have to admire his passion. Taken Sept. 11th, 2006.

I love this city to death, and I hate to see it get jerked around.
Minutes ago, I checked out today's lead story in The Winnipeg Free Press', and it seems that one more hurdle may have been cleared in the fight to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix for one more season. Fine, I say. If the whole buyer thing works out, great. Bettman's hard-on of stubborness is intact. Good on ya, Gary.

I just hate hearing the press jump on every rumor regarding the possibility of our long-lost Winnipeg Jets returning like the Prodigal Son. Truthfully, I'm not sure if that simile is appropriate, but it sure does sound good. Anyway, I just feel bad for folks in this city that get worked up over faint hope. The whole situation is some sort of open wound that forces outside of this town love to thrust a few fingers in for kicks. They love it when we squirm in the form of grassroot movements to fetch our team back from the indifferent Sun Belt.

And what about the Moose? Yeah, you remember them, right? I feel for those motherfuckers. Be real, y'all: the Moose are totally the jilted second wife in this mess. She knew Winnipeg and the Jets were tight, but the breakup was bitter, and she'd do anything to make him forget. The thing is, ol' Winnipeg never got over The Franchise, even though she crossed the border, changed her name and hooked up with Phoenix. Winnipeg got drunk every few years and openly pined for The Franchise, sending ill-advised texts and nude photos, all the while assuring wife no. 2 that everything was on the up n' up.

It's 4:58, and I've clearly gone too far with this metaphor. This post was just an elaborate ruse to use that photo.

Digital Dalliances

2010-05-10T05:03:00.000-05:00

Hi. I've been in some dark places mentally, lately. I'll eventually get on track, including the Zero 2 Illo challenge. In the meantime, let me hit you off with some online bullshit.

Me at Flavors.me – flavors.me/misterlorde: I did this on a whim, inspired by my man Chris. Essentially, it's a one-stop contact page or social network business card. I just remembered I had this.
Mr. Lorde Should Be Drawing – misterlorde.tumblr.com: That title mocks me like nothing else. It's an effective shame tool. Basically, I started this when I fell out of love with my blog for a moment. Now, it's storage place for impulsive posts. So, The Place Where Al Dwells... = depth, Mr. Lorde Should Be Drawing = brain farts. I'm only 15 posts deep, but I'm beginning to enjoy using Tumblr, especially with this new theme I'm using. We'll see how long this lasts. I guess I should stay on board, as Mr. Mayer feels Tumblr is the future, and we all know how wise he is.
A warning: nudity may show up every once in a while. None of my own.

A note: History repeats itself. For nearly two years I said I didn't need Twitter, and then I joined. My joining of Tumblr shows that I'm pretty good at shooting my mouth off.

Allow me to be passive-aggressive for a moment...

2010-05-04T00:48:00.000-05:00

Apparently, because I'm going to be a dad this year, I'm no longer allowed to acknowledge cool things. This came as news to me! All this time, I thought it was a healthy thing for someone to have interests outside of work and that it was possible to have these interests with offspring on the horizon. Well, I'm glad they straightened me out. I'm sure my son or daughter would rather have a dishwater-dull old man than a vibrant, pop culture-damaged idiot savant for a father.

Also, I've had more folks than I care to count (because that would mean taking an interest in something) tell me to get my gadgets now, because a child will fuck all of that up. Well, I'll be damned if that ain't some top notch advice. I mean, I knew I had to make certain sacrifices, but that notion hit me like a bolt of lightning! While I'm at it, I should stop buying comics, books, magazines, and music. Those items are frivolous and not at all life-affirming or informative, and my child should know that.

Thank you (hands clasped)...thank you for putting me on the right path, friends.

New Japan Pro Wrestling's YouTube Channel

2010-05-02T02:45:00.000-05:00

Streaming full-length matches from New Japan's 38 year history. This makes me happier than a bunch of puppies running into a kitchen!

Dynamite Kid vs. Tiger Mask, January 28th, 1982

Tiger Mask vs. Bret Hart, February 5th, 1982 (WWF Junior Heavyweight Championship match)

Masahiro Chono vs. Steve Austin, September 23rd, 1992 (NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match – I think this might be slightly clipped.)

A clip of Antonio Inoki vs. Ric Flair, May 1st, 1995 – Pyongyang, North Korea

Zero 2 Illo 12 Week Challenge: Week 3

2010-04-26T05:17:00.000-05:00

Well, week 3 of the challenge is upon us, and again, I feel unprepared. Don't get me wrong, I've been doing research, but possibly not enough. The first of two tasks was to 1) "decide upon my business structure" – all the legal/tax stuff, setting up shop – and right here was where I felt kind of clueless. Other than hearing I can claim a certain amount of square footage on my taxes for freelancing, I don't know a whole helluva lot.
As far as that goes, this photo pretty much describes what my current set-up is like, even though it's almost two years old. That will change on June 1st, when my wife and I will move into our new house, where I'll have my own spot. (It's all happening at once...new house, new family member to prepare for!) The size is just right for me to do my thing, and I can't wait to set it up.
But, I digress. I think it's time I have a long-overdue discussion with my pal Sam about how she set her business up, and whatever struggles she may have encountered. If anything, I'm sure she'd be able set me on the right path.

Next, I had to 2) "lay the foundations of my marketing strategy", and if you look at the challenge entry, the first thing I have to do is figure out who I'm trying to impress. I have to say my target is art directors. The next step?:

Based on your research, I’d like you to gather a targeted list of 10 Companies, Publishers, Art Directors or Manufacturers that you will be contacting when we get to that part of the challenge.

Well, I took that as a call to gather the art director info for the following ten magazines/newspapers:

Playboy, The New Yorker, Rolling Stone, The Walrus, Monocle, Esquire, Maxim, National Post, and Complex. This list might need some tweaking, as I've been thinking about some of these titles since college (I remember seeing Playboy Japan on an illustrator's client list and thought that was the most amazing thing ever). And the last step:

Armed with everything you now know about your list of contacts, plan out 6 portfolio pieces that you will be creating in the next 3 weeks of the challenge...

Okay, two or three of these will need to have caricature involved. Admittedly, not my strong point, but I'm down to get better. Some musicians, actors, political figures, etc. Maybe the other half should be concept-driven or humorous? I'd say that's the move.

I guess that's it! I really didn't think I'd get this far as flushing out what needs to be done. I did have a few notes to go by. I'm gonna roll by the Zero 2 Illo clubhouse and see what my compatriots have done, and take notes. And Jonathon has already posted this week's assignment, so I'm going to give it a look before bed.

I'm feeling way more accomplished than I thought I would. Either that, or I'm super-deluded!

The rumors are true!*

2010-04-26T02:10:00.002-05:00

We're expecting!

Grand Beach, August 19th, 2006.

*I'm actually unaware of any rumors.

FOX and ABC have a problem with awesomeness.

2010-04-22T04:44:00.000-05:00

Kudos to the lovely Violet Blue for puttin' me on to this situation.

R.I.P. Guru

2010-04-20T13:53:00.000-05:00

One of the true greats is gone. If I learned one thing from the man, it's that it's mostly the voice, and that's an undeniable fact.

Zero 2 Illo 12 Week Challenge: Week 2

2010-04-19T05:08:00.002-05:00

This week (and I'm a little late due to real life interfering), we were to come up with a one page business plan. Here's the info behind all of that. Personally, I think I'm going to have to re-write this at some point, as I think I'm repeating myself and not answering things clearly. But, time is of the essence, and I really hope I handle week 3 better than this. You can't hear me, but I'm totally muttering under my breath about how I took care of this and I definitely plan on getting some feedback from the Zero 2 Illo fam. Whoa...is it really 5:13 AM? Yes. Yes it is. Bed time.

Objective:
Ultimate goal – gallery shows and high profile illustration jobs
Bigger goal – Solo gallery shows and world travel due to those shows
Goals:
Income goals – charging and getting what I’m worth, augmenting current income
Markets & Audiences – music/entertainment magazines, poster & music lovers
Channels – Etsy and gigposters.com classified ad
Strategies:
Income streams - selling my work via Etsy/GP, maybe a Big Cartel store?
Market/Audience first focus - editorial illustration, I figure. I’d like to do something for Exclaim! before the end of the year.
Services - I’m not sure what to say here.
How will I deliver? - Personally, I figure. I don’t have an agent, and I figure it’ll be a while before I do.
Measures:
Key milestones - seriously, if I sell out of an entire print run of art prints, I’d consider that successful. Other than that, I think I really ought to think about this a little more.

Art Break!

2010-04-15T02:45:00.000-05:00

The end result.

I finally got to posting the iPhone pics from the Art Break event I mentioned in this previous post. That event was truly fun. Take a gander!

Random Thoughts: April 13th, 2010

2010-04-13T05:11:00.000-05:00

It's BDI time, fool. Get you some.

Zero 2 Illo 12 Week Challenge, Week 2. This week? A business plan. Creative person Kryptonite. However, the way Jonathan and his lovely wife Lea have broken it all down for us, it seems simple enough to do! Believe it or not, I'm looking forward to chewin' on this one. Plus, it needs to be done.
R.I.P. Jenny Joyce. (This bit might be somewhat NSFW) Jenny was a MILF before the term came about. She was among the most visible of early '90s mature adult performers for Filmco/Totally Tasteless Video, including Kitty Foxx and Cathy Jones. And by far, she was my favorite. AVN wrote a nice obit/profile for her.
American Trademarks: Got a call today from the good folks at McNally that my copy of American Trademarks has arrived. Illustration and design powerhouse Micheal Doret wrote it up nicely on his blog, so naturally, I had to cop it. Also, Aaron Draplin – a man I look up to – is also profiled in this book, which is a incentive that put my approval over the top.
Frank Stockton. Looking through a number of illustration annuals over the years, I can say that subconsciously, I've become a fan of Frank Stockton. However, I think my admiration for his talent truly came to fruition while flipping through Illustrators 51. There, I found page 3 of his six-page story, "A Shot At Glory" (written by Zev Borow) for ESPN magazine. In particular, I'm taken with the superior, aloof stance of the pitcher, Martha, in panel 9. Before you say anything, yes, I fully realize she's big, which I love. But that isn't it. What I love really, is how she's constructed. Her stance is real. When she says, "you suck, Borow," you can't help but believe she means it. I dug this page so much, I went to my library to find the real deal, only to find the whole thing online.

An Open Letter To YouTube

2010-04-10T04:02:00.000-05:00

Hey, YouTube!

Yo...remember when I could have the comments turned off for all of the videos I wanted to watch? Yeah, that was pretty fuckin' awesome. You're so much cooler when you're free of stupidity and ignorance. Otherwise, you're doin' a bang-up job.

Love,
Al

Zero 2 Illo 12 Week Challenge: Week 1, Part 2

2010-04-09T04:43:00.000-05:00

Time for me to answer the question: What do you want to illustrate? Or, to be more specific, what kind of illustration do I want to do?
Editorial
Art prints and other ephemera
Comics
Art shows
I really do think that sums it up. My official/unofficial motto for the longest time has been "I just want to make cool shit", and now I've just made the cool shit specific.
We, as zero2illo12wc participants, were also to ask ourselves some other questions, such as (these come directly from the site):

Is your idea commercially viable?
You mean to do all of that stuff? Sure. I mean, the comics idea is mainly for the love of the art form and storytelling. It might be a pipe dream of sorts for me. I'm not sure I want to draw someone else's story. I really think I'd like to write and illustrate my own story, but I currently have nothing to say or tell. I just love comics. The truth is, there's no guarantee of success, and it's time-consuming. It's a labour of love to do it on the solo tip.
So I could probably do all of that stuff, but I'll have to shift my energy as I need to. One part will pay more bills than the other. That's life.
What are the target markets (publications, manufacturers, brands and companies) currently commissioning this kind of illustration?
- Editorial: My personal "big two" are The New Yorker and Rolling Stone. There's also Esquire, The Walrus, Exclaim! (even though they only have one spot for illustration now), Monocle, etc.
- Art prints and other ephemera: No one's really commissioning this stuff, but immediate outlets would be the gigposters.com classifieds and Etsy.
- Comics: Top Shelf, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Oni Press. I'd say those would be my ideal publishers.
- Art shows: I'd kill to be part of a Gallery 1988 group show or something at Nucleus. Eventually, a solo show would be dope. I'd love to travel internationally for this kind of thing, but I'd have to be of Kozik or Baseman status. It could happen.
Who are the big players (illustrators) in this market?
- Editorial: Peter de Sève, Tomer Hanuka, Marcos Chin, Sterling Hundley, and many more...
- Art Prints: Dan McCarthy, Dave Kinsey, Evan Hecox, man...check out OMGPosters.com and even more names will pop up.
- Comics: Man...uh, Jaime Hernandez, Daniel Clowes, Seth, Chris Ware, etc. These dudes are the elite in my eyes (and off the top of my head).
- Art shows: Frank Kozik, Coop, Scott C., Glenn Barr, Dave Cooper, and others. I really look up to these people.
Why are they successful in this area? Look at their website and other online profiles, search for interviews with them online…How do they promote themselves? If you can break down what makes them successful (other than that they are very talented), you can apply this model to your own business.
Well, first of all, they're all really good. And they never stop, they're constantly busy. A number of them maintain blogs, keeping people updated on their exploits/work/products/lunch. They're staying busy, relevant, and visible.

It's currently 4:38, and I should be in bed. However, I'm really glad I sat down and wrote this out. Maybe I'll be able to come up with a good game plan out of this. Stay tuned.

Zero 2 Illo 12 Week Challenge: Week 1, Part 1

2010-04-07T04:32:00.000-05:00

And so it begins!

So far, there are close to (or possibly over) 80 folks taking part in the Zero 2 Illo 12 Week Challenge, and the enthusiasm is high, so far. All of the bios that Jonathan has been able to post, including mine, can be found here, and an assortment of discussions are taking place at the newly set up Ning-based "clubhouse", including an introduction thread.

The first task seems deceptively simple, but requires a bit of soul-searching; it's a question: what do you want to illustrate?

I more-or-less have an answer, but I think I should take a little time to suss it out, as I'm making it a public record sort of thing. Of course, I have the right to change my mind later, but I doubt there will be much deviation. For now, I'm gonna write some notes, and get some sleep. Peace.

Skid Row Pimpin'

2010-04-07T02:09:00.000-05:00

Pip (with the infamous Nestor Wynrush) performing "Cut Me Into A 1000 Pieces & Burn Them For 3 Weeks" at the West End Cultural Centre – March 13th, 2010. This shot is in the current issue of Stylus (thanks, Jenny!).

Y'all sick of me talking about Skid Row yet? I hope not. Because what I'm really saying is: YOU NEED THIS ALBUM. And now, you can get it within your filthy fingers via the good folks at Foultone. Purchase your physical copy via this link, and hit 'em off PayPal style.

What? You prefer zeros and ones? Well, it's on iTunes, too. US and Canada, fool. Get you some.

Still not convinced? What do I have to do? Free radio versions of three Pip tracks from foultone.com? You drive a hard bargain. All zipped up for your convenience.

This is some of the best shit Pip has ever recorded, and he'd be the first to tell you so. This is going to sound weird, but believe me, you will never hear self-hatred sound so good. Wanna know why? Because Pip's acidic, grimy rhymes and Kutdown's sublime beats are the finest tag team since the British Bulldogs. Kut outdid himself on the production tip, and he laces y'all with the shit that real heads dream of. A special shout-out goes to my man DJ Co-op for "You Got A Bad Name"; tap shoes have never sounded so dark. Good job, homie.
So, yeah, playa...enrich your life. Visit Skid Row.

Paul Robertson's Kings of Power 4 Billion %

2010-04-05T02:37:00.001-05:00

Got 12:39 to spare? Well then, feast your eyes upon what easily ranks as one of the most insane things I've ever seen. It's unhinged, colorful, and bound to offend in some fashion. Therefore, it's genius.
Want to know what's even better? This man is behind the visuals for the upcoming Scott Pilgrim video game. Yes.
Props to Muttpop for lettin' a brother know. Visit Mr. Robertson here. Paul has made the film available for download from several outlets.

The Briscoes vs. Sterling Keenan & Jason Blade

2010-04-03T06:55:00.000-05:00

I just listened to a great interview with Jay Briscoe, the elder Briscoe Brother, so I was inspired to post a match of theirs. This was probably the first Briscoe match I had seen in entirety, and was happy I did, because they're fun to watch. I think you'll agree.
Jay is older than Mark, but it's kinda hard to tell 'em apart at first. Look a little closer, and you'll see that Jay has more teeth.

An Assortment of Great Internet-Based April Fools' Day Jokes

2010-04-02T00:13:00.000-05:00

UGSMAG temporarily becomes JUGSMAG.
Jess Fink spoofs her porn comic Chester 5000 XYV via Chesty 5000 XYV.
Very NSFW, BTW.
Brand New unveils a Dunkin' Donuts re-design.
Blockhead hits you off with a rare Eminem joint...or does he?
(Dig that stylin' '89 gear. Seriously, I can't tell if that photo is legit or not.)

Random Thoughts: April 1st, 2010

2010-04-01T03:46:00.001-05:00

Me, as Dre, at Winnipeg's Dre Day celebration at The Lo Pub – February 9th, 2010

The ties have been severed.

R.I.P. My Use of MySpace (2005 - 2010) My description of the screencap above on Flickr:
I'm sure these get read rarely, if at all. Incendiary cartoonist Nick Gazin recently referred to MySpace as "the abandoned stripmall of the internet" in his Vice column.
I'd say that's rather apt.
I should've left ages ago.
I won't read anything more heart-touching than this all week. Peter de Sève's blog post, dedicated to his late pit bull, Darla. So sweet.
The End of Mass Appeal Mondays. There was an incident outside The Lo Pub on Monday that resulted in 4 people stabbed. What happened was isolated from the performance inside, which was a part of Mass Appeal Mondays, a weekly night dedicated to rap, which gave both up-and-comers and established performers a chance to shine.
My man Cass, Mass Appeal's head honcho, voluntarily ended the weekly event. The Lo is a fine establishment*, and he didn't want them to continue getting the negative rub due to what went down.

I'm saddened by the loss of the event, but I fully recognize that it's time to reflect upon what happened and regroup. The folks that dismiss rap music and hip-hop culture in general are skeetin' on themselves with glee at the moment, and that's just fine. They have their place in this world, and as far as I'm concerned, they only justify hip-hop's existence. For every negative stroke, there will always be something positive happening that will have those same people vexed and perplexed.
Best Sunday Ever. On the 28th, I spent a good chunk of the day at The Graffiti Gallery, participating in the Art Break program with artist Paul Butler and graphic designer/hip-hop pioneer Cey Adams. I'll post my iPhone photos of the event shortly. This was something I needed. I stepped out of my zone, and I loved it. I need to do more of this.
After Art Break, I jetted on down to Silver City Polo Park to watch Wrestlemania XXVI, the first PPV I've watched since...Wrestlemania X-Seven. Wrestling on a giant screen, a ton of junk food, and rabid fans that accentuated the entire experience. Classic.
LB Kerfuffle. If you're a follower of Little Brother's Phonte Coleman on Twitter (and why wouldn't you be?), you were probably shocked to see this post directed to his former partner, 9th Wonder, as much as I was. To fully clear the air, Phonte took to Vimeo.
In the end, all I could say was "wow", as I was truly unaware as to how acrimonious the split between Phonte, Big Pooh (on this side) and 9th (on that side over there).
Pooh took the opportunity to make a statement, too.
Zero 2 Illo 12 Week Challenge. Read all about it here. I'm participating, and I'm really looking forward to it all. There's a lot I'm unaware of as far as what's gonna go down, but that's part of what's exciting about it, and I like Jonathan's spirit and attitude (especially ever since I heard his EFII interview). My bio, along with those of the other participants, can be found here.

*The bar staff is really cool. I heartily recommend the poutine. Oh yeah, Drop The Needle is a damn good time, too.

Random Thoughts: March 27th, 2010

2010-03-27T03:24:00.000-05:00

Me at Big Brain Comics – August 3rd, 2006. My favorite comic store.

Comics America. As many of you know, I regularly visit Comics America as part of my Boxing Day shopping spree. It goes back to my days as an RRC student, when I could afford to make a few comic purchases a year. I'd get a shitload of Christmas money, and drop a lot of it there during their annual sale. Now that I'm properly employed, I'm able to go several times a month. However, I haven't gone back since this past Boxing Day, and I'm not sure if I'll return.
For years, I've been shopping there, while friends/acquaintances have asked me why I bother, as many of them consider the owner to be a dick and a shyster. Every time that happened, I'd acknowledge his eccentric behavior, but at the same time, mention that Comics America carries everyting. Fanboy shit, illustration books, indie titles...everything. And that's why I patronized CA for so long, and that's also part of CA's problem. Because they carry everything, items are often piled in a perilous fashion, and the pathways can be narrow.
While trying to make my way through one of these paths in a careful fashion, said owner faux-encouraged me to get through successfully. I still managed to knock something over, no damage done, however.

"Guess you might have to lose a little weight", he joked.

I laughed in response, while thinking he was way outta line. I got my stuff, paid him, then left. I really tried not to let his off-hand comment get to me, but I have to admit that it stuck, and it has kept me from going.
I recounted this incident with my homies Eddie Ayoub and Steve St. Louis after the Pip Skid album release show, and they were both aghast. Eddie recounted that when he bothered to shop there, he had a hard time getting around the store's items, and he's a small dude.
I know one GP member would write off my soft boycott as the behavior of a "sensitive fatty". Maybe he's right, I dunno. However, I kinda like being respected, and at the moment, I felt I wasn't.
So maybe I'll patronize Comic Factory instead. The dude that runs that place had the only copies of Scott Pilgrim Vol. 5 on the day of release. You don't forget a thing like that. Plus, I can always visit McNally and hit up Amazon. I can count on a measure of respect with them. And better prices.
Deadline. I've given myself a year from Thursday to make two major changes in my life. What will I do if I don't make it? That's not an option.
2010 Layer Tennis Exhibition Matches. Coudal Partners' Layer Tennis is always fun, but I have to say that the past two exhibition matches from this year's season have been an absolute joy to witness.
If you're unfamiliar with Layer Tennis, here's the skinny from their site:

We’re hosting a series of live design events called Layer Tennis. This wouldn’t have happened without the support of Adobe® Creative Suite®, the weapon of choice for Layer Tennis players and creative professionals everywhere.
We'll be playing matches using video, animation, sound, photos, type and lots more, but the basic idea is the same no matter what tools are in use. Two competitors will swap a file back and forth in real-time, adding to and embellishing the work. Each artist gets fifteen minutes to complete a “volley” and then we post it to the site live. A third participant, a writer, provides play-by-play commentary on the action, as it happens. A match lasts for ten volleys and when it's complete, Season Ticket Holders tell us what they think and we'll declare a winner, so sign up today.
And you should sign up; I fully encourage you to do so.
Getting back to the exhibition matches I loved:

Naz Hamid vs Sam Javanrouh: This was a photography-based battle with a music score created by Mark Greenberg of The Coctails. The result was nothing short of sublime. Both men captured their respective cities (Toronto and San Francisco) with humor and sweetness, and the score was terrifically matched. Luckily, no victor was to be declared, because I personally couldn't pick one. This was the highlight of my Friday, hands down. Check the battle from the beginning, or hit layer 10 for the whole thing.

Matt Smithson vs Daniel Oeffinger: Epic. Comically so. That's how I'd describe this encounter. Every layer was magic. Robots, dead rabbits, digital Aztecs...this bout had everything. See for yourself.

I haven't watched this week's match-up yet, but I will when I finish typing this bitch up.

This will be the best thing I'll see all day.

2010-03-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

The Scott Pilgrim vs. The World trailer.

YES. Any doubt you may have had about the film should hopefully be gone.

mcenroe Gives You An Update

2010-03-20T04:17:00.004-05:00

This news is over a week old, but now that I've given this place a fresh coat of paint, I feel like throwing these newfangled, wide-ass videos up in here. Here's the man behind Peanuts & Corn Records getting you up to speed on what's happening with the label in 2010, and a taste of some demos. This is what I, and many others, have been waiting for.