Archive for the ‘art’ Category

Chris Imitates Art

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

I’ve been having fun re-learning how to make vector art stuff lately. (Learn the difference between vector and raster graphics here. The quick explanation is that raster graphics are comprised of pixels, while vector graphics are created with mathematically-defined shapes and lines.) I used to love drawing when I was younger but, quite frankly, I’m horrible with pencil and paper. I love the clean lines of vector art; there’s something just so shiny and fresh about it.

So, last week I started picking things and drawing them, letting my imagination run wild. My first few attempts sucked. They sucked so hard that they became little black holes of suckitude which swallowed some nearby files. But then my brain started linking up some old memories, rerouting power to long-abandoned booze-flooded power stations, and suddenly things started clicking.

As strange as it may sound, I sort of forgot that I could draw for the last few years. I’m pretty sure that the crazy years following high school have something to do with it. (Note to the kids: The drink known as the “Mind Eraser” makes a titular claim that it intends to back up.) I’m no Picasso, but I surprised myself with how well some of my most recent stuff turned out. Here’s my new avatar that I’m posting everywhere.

I drew some other stuff (a whale, a bass guitar, the wife), but can’t seem to find where I saved those files. Anyway, I got so excited with my drawing that I decided to make some fan art. I chose to pay homage to one of my favorite webcomics out there, Hijinks Ensue. The inspiration comes from the character Josh’s love of bacon and this infamous picture from collegehumor.com (warning: contains two clothed chicks kissing on a pile of beer kegs). Here it is. (Clicking it gives you a gargantuan version you can use as a desktop wallpaper if you like. Yes, you have my permission.)

As I draw more stuff, I’ll upload it here. I’d appreciate your feedback and/or drawing tips and if you have any art you’ve created, I’d be happy to link to it. I’ll also be incorporating some *actual* artwork into my webcomic, Geek Sauce, in the future, so be sure to check in there every Tuesday and Friday.

Bonus Link! One of my favorite artist blogs can be found here: I Fail At Life, That’s Why I Became An Artist

Darth Side of the Moon

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Like all of my desktop wallpaper, I don’t know exactly where I picked this up but this sweet Pink Floyd/Star Wars mashup was created by James Lillis. You can see some cool t-shirts created by James by following this link.

Click to embiggen.

Obama As Jesus, St. Francis, Buddha, and Superman

Saturday, January 23rd, 2010

A few months ago, around Christmas I think, the wife and I attended a dinner party at my wife’s aunt’s house. When I arrived (sometime after my wife had) everyone started telling me these stories about the next door neighbor’s garage sale. My wife tells me that the neighbor was selling religious icons that were, well, somewhat altered (Or maybe I mean ‘altared’? Get it? Ha!).

Upon further questioning the neighbor, she admitted that she hadn’t actually made them, she was just selling them for an artist friend who regularly makes the items and sells them in Mexico. She thought they were “very nice” works of art and didn’t see what the whole hubbub was about.

Some of the dinner party guests who had gone next door to take a peek at the icons were shocked, others were offended, and some others thought they were pretty rad and funny.  I’m going to have to side with the “pretty rad” crowd, myself. Here are the pictures my wife’s aunt’s new husband, Patrick, took, which I just found buried in my inbox.

Click to enlarge (giggity).

Obama as the Buddha, or (as I call it) "Barackisattva"

Obama as St. Francis of Assisi

Obama as... ? Moses? Jesus? I'm going with Jesus. Uh, in a manner of speaking, I mean.

Definitely Jesus. Walking water was the big hint here. Yep.

Obama as St. Francis of Assisi, again.

Obama as Superman, son of Jor-El. Obamaman, I guess.

So what do you think? Art? Offensive? Carrots? Comment below.