DragonCon prt 3

After a panel at DragonCon I talked to Dan Jolley author of a Star Wars Tales short story and Voltron.
He assured me cool stuff was coming up with Voltron. I think he could tell it was a tough sale. But we seemed to get along pretty well and he introduced me to some guys that work in the studio with him. All cool guys and got a great portfolio review. Lots of helpful ideas. I am hoping to work with them in the future.
Good people.
Here are some more random pictures. A really cool Alien table for sale, misc costumes and a lesson; goth guys shouldn’t wear mesh shirts.





My final DragonCon report tomorrow.

DragonCon part 2

Well this just in, I made Star Wars.com Bantha Tracks a second time! This for the Mr. Star Wars contest...even got my name in there with the picture.
(hyperspace subscription needed)
I made these Revenge of the Bith stickers to hand out to people just for fun. After an interesting talk with X-wing author Michael Stackpole, I gave him one and he seemed practically giddy. Turns out he has a scrapbook of weird Star Wars things from his journeys and this was going in it. I would love to see that scrapbook.

Well there is a disturbing trend in Star Wars costuming that was very evident at DragonCon this year, Click for large image.


Great wookie costume and yes that is Jango on a scooter next to psuedo-Lucas

Yet even more DragonCon Tales and pictures tomorrow

DragonCon

Well I got sick and really didn't get to talk much about DragonCon this year, so here is a little recap.
Unlike past years there weren't as many art directors there. The convention seemed smaller, but with more people. I learned I need to get more black and white images in my portfolio and possibly some pirates. Voltaire really liked my portfolio and the ChiChian sketch I made for him. Who knows perhaps I'll work on his RPG in the future or something. The surrealism seemed less intense this year, maybe one does get used to riding with elves and superheroes on the elevator. So when you get talked into trying out for Mr. Star Wars it almost seems normal. Almost.
Mr. Star Wars is great fun. Basically Star Wars improv meets a pageant. Very funny. Except when you are the one in the spotlight trying to be funny on demand, on your knees, as an ewok.

But apparently I enticed some of the judges with tales of my Japanese SW condoms, unopened, still in their original packaging, because I received the Scruffy Nerf Herder Rogue award...I do look scruffy looking.

Here are the winners of the Masquerade, Dr. T's band from the Muppets, amazing costumes.


Here is me with a Radar look alike, unfortunately we seem to be posing for different cameras....Whatever I'm looking at, I seem happy.

And here is my first appearance on Star Wars.com. It was for a Star Wars panel and the head of Bantha Tracks took this picture of the audience. I'm the one in the far back row with the black shirt...Okay really I'm so far back I'm about 2 pixels...But I know I'm there. So now I can say I've been on Star Wars.com, maybe soon I'll have artwork there...more than 2 pixels worth.

More DragonCon tales and pictures tomorrow.

The Dark Tomorrow

Some of you know I had started work on an online comic. It was to be a pulp comic for only 10cents a week. Called Dark Tomorrow it was to take place in a retrofutristic 1939 Berlin. The hero was to be a female pilot with a robot sidekick, fighting mad scientists and other pulp fodder. All in a muted grey palette, German expressionism angles with dirgibles and monsters. Then Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow... As soon as I saw the first sneak peaks my heart sunk and Dark Tomorrow went on hold. Last weekend I finally got to see the movie and a little relief, came over me. It was a different concept with similar tone and look, but still different. So next year after all the Star Wars hoopla, I plan to reintroduce the Dark Tomorrow...
But with a different name.

So that is where I’m coming from when I enter the theater excited to see something close to what I’ve been dreaming of. And Sky Captain doesn’t disappoint from the opening sequence of the Hindenburg III docking at the Empire State building it’s a 30’s future dream come true. Every scene comes straight from an Amazing Stories or Weird Tales cover. The movie becomes a game of recognizing every reference, from Godzilla to 1138. Even the Wizard of Oz sneaks in there several times. The movie looks great. But sometimes all this looking for Waldos takes you out of the story. The actors filmed this all on blue screen and it feels it. They are separate from the action, stilted. There is never any sense of danger or an Indy Jones style rollercoaster ride.

I want when that P-40 dives, the feeling that maybe the wings are going to come off, rivets popping , engine roaring. Just think of those 30’s, 40’s backscreens of couples in a car at night. You never feel as though those headlights behind them are going to suddenly crash into them. Sky Captain has this problem with everything, giant robots should terrify, not just look cool. I think about Jurassic Park (yes that movie has problems) But there are times the CG dinos really feel like they are bearing down on you. Is it the fact there is more of a set? I don’t know? I just couldn’t relate to the danger and it reminded me of the SW prequels.

Is this a problem with the digital backlot? It should work though, because animation still allows you to identify with characters and feel their emotions. Think Bambi. Perhaps directors need to approach filmmaking differently now with digital. I just don’t know.

And then the story is just a pastiche of ideas with the witty banter lacking oomph and there isn't enough tension between Gwyneth and Jude Law. Instead Gwyneth seems just whiny and not enough of the strong female of Katherine Hepburn or even the female lead in the first Indiana Jones. Though it is fun as they travel around to exotic locales solving this mystery, and finally meeting Sir Laurence Olivier. The Wizard.

But despite my criticism overall I really enjoyed Sky Captain and hope there is a sequel, there is so much potential for this first time director and concepts. An amazing freshman effort, I just wanted a senior project.

It Be International Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Avast ye maties, it be International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Arrr!!!!
I've already worked in a couple of Aye's and arrs in to me work conversation. No one appearing the wiser. Those bunch of land lubbers and bilge rats.

Arrr!!! Shiver me timbers.
Tomorrow I'll have me review of the flick Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow. That way you can read it my mates without any references to barnacles or how jolly it made my roger....
man does that sound wrong.
Arrr....

I'm sick,
will post later.

Well nothing goes the way you want it or expect it to. The problems continue with Nekokaiju.com and not sure when it will be up. But now is the the time to escape reality and enter the mythical world of DragonCon. I need the escape.

I will try to give updates every day while I'm gone. Stay tuned.

Kaiju Trouble

Well Godzilla has returned to the sea, there is no sight of Mothra in the skies.
So you ask where is Nekokaiju.com? Good question. For all of five minutes last night it was up (albeit a stripped down version) and running. Now I can't connect to the server and my home page has disappeared. I'm slogging on though, despite my ignorance of how these things work (or in my case don't work). Hopefully all to be resolved soon. But I'm putting it aside today to get some artwork done.
But I hope you like my new banner above, and the coverpage at Nekokaiju.com
Just a hint of what is to come.

Curiouser and Curiouser

Detail of the spider on the one dollar bill. Photoshop.
Leave it to my mom to point out that some of the net webbing is a little off.
No I'm not looking for a new career in counterfeiting. But I am creating money for fictional places. More news shortly.

The Quays Brothers are currently in preproduction for a new film starring Geoffrey Rush, titled: The Piano Tuner of Earthquakes
This comes after the film for
The Forgotten Museum of Henry Welcome in London. Really interesting site with old medical devices and paraphernalia, along with clips of the Quay Bros. Phantom Museum film. Definitely on my agenda for my next trip to London.
Animate Online also has stills and information about the Quays museum film.

Animated News talks about the first look at Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride. Should be a fun film.

From those fine folks at My Pet Skeleton comes A Murder of Scarecrows. A little flash game that wastes hours of time and looks cool while doing it.

Comic Book Resources has posted the first stills and interview from Neil Gaiman's and Dave McKean's MirrorMask. This movie looks incredible. I can't wait.

And leave it to Neil Gaiman to just casually mention on his blog that Dave McKean"(... nips off to New York for a few days to work on the Broadway "Vampire Lestat" musical...)"

The Abandoned: Sith War

Just watched the Olympic opening ceremonies, beautiful.
I want a centaur costume.

Right now I'm at a fun part in designing Nekokaiju.com.
Currently I'm going through old art and projects, deciding
what I want to include on the site. Thought you might want
to see some of the projects that didn't make the cut.

Back in 2002 I was excited about the buzz around the upcoming adventure game Knights Of The Old Republic. I loved the idea of creating designs that looked like antiquity in the Star Wars Universe. But even more I wanted to create a free fan game based on those designs. With limited programming knowledge, I knew I had a huge project ahead of me. I decided to do a prequel to KOTOR, knowing that if KOTOR was successful they would probably do a sequel.(Though in the Star Wars universe, you can never know for sure) As I started doing research, I also thought it would be fun to have the prequel look like it was made long ago, a retro game based on the engine of the old Nintendo Final Fantasy games. This also had other benefits, less of a learning curve and pixelly images with less detail all added up to what I thought would be less time to develop the project. I was wrong, it was a massive undertaking I just didn't have time to finish. But who knows maybe sometime in the future. I'm already teaching myself the Adventure Game Studio for an interactive portfolio concept and this was a very educational experience in learning coding etc... My days of game creating may not be over.

Below is a screenshot of a battle scene on the Wookie homeworld and animated sprites of the game that never was
Of course all Star Wars and related images are the property of Lucasfilm.

Comments?

Godzilla Attacks!

The NekoKaiju.com website has been difficult to get up. Teaching myself HTML, server problems, it's been one thing after the other.
And now Godzilla is attacking it!
I don't know what's next. But assuming Mothra doesn't show up the site should be open August 23rd.
Oh, have I mentioned the big green guy is turning 50 this year?

Speaking of birthdays, an early happy birthday goes out to the Cicada Queen.

So I'm at the museum the other day. Working with volunteers that are all elderly women. A guy comes in seems a little disheveled. One of his shoes is untied. A volunteer goes up to him trying to be nice and points this out. He replies "It will be okay, Mind your own business bitch!".
The museum always stimulating.


My parents picked up a plaster cast used for art school studies. Fun to draw.
Thanks.

Up above I've added a Paypal donation button. Donate $50 or more and I'll send you a sketch of your favorite character in September. But feel free to donate what you can...yes I'm still begging. The money will be used to help me out with my illustration career. Thanks.

Oh don't forget it's Godzilla's 50th Anniversary this year!

This caged item is sold in Japanese markets as Godzilla's Egg.
A watermelon that costs about $75 a piece.

Rabbit
Rabbit?


It's alive.
So about a month ago, I came across this article (no longer available) on an unknown creature spotted in North Carolina. Oddly I had seen something like it in Northern Virgina about 2 years ago. I assumed it was just a large sick fox. But there was something fishy about the photograph in the article. It looked manipulated, a poor job at photoshop, even the shadow seemed wrong. Curious I made this image in photoshop, just to see if it could be done.

I was convinced it was just a hoax.
But now I'm not so sure
The other day, a video showed up on a Baltimore news channel, it showed a similiar looking creature walking around. Looks a little different but close. You can check it out
here
Sure looks like an unknown creature is roaming the east coast...watch out.

Last night at 1:00am, my bedroom filled with red flashing lights, the sounds of a firetruck just right outside my apartment. I layed there wondering. And my mind went something like this "Is my apartment on fire?...perhaps I should get up...nah I'm too tired, Okay I'm going to burn because I'm tired. hmm, I better get up, I don't want a tombstone to say, he just didn't feel like getting up so he never did again"

So I rush putting on my clothes and run out the apartment, A fireman was standing there. "Excuse me officer is there a problem?" his response, "nah just checking the lights"....

nice

Nekokaiju.com

Nekokaiju.com is finally coming. This is going to be an online portfolio of my work, with some surprises. It will be opening in the next week or two. I now have a new teaser up there and it takes less time than brewing a cup of tea to download.

The teaser is a photo of my favorite Gibson girl model. Doesn't everybody have a favorite Gibson girl model? You can read about Evelyn Nesbit here.
Sex, murder, and the supernatural.


Click the banner above or the thumbnail below, to see my new teaser.



So it's getting late in the summer and you still haven't planned your vacation?
how about the forgotten country of Molvania? Though unfortunately you've already missed the Spring Festival of the Eastern Steppes, where adolescent boys serenade mules. But there is always next year.

I hate the 80's.
Okay that's not true. I love the 80's. I'm just getting tired of all the retro comics like GiJoe, Thundercats, and the Transformers. None of these books are really challenging. The only reason I see bringing them back is to give a new slant to them, but instead they just tread old ground.
...Maybe they have better art than the originals, but that's about it.
Though now with all this retro madness, If your spaceship crashes on Thundarr Earth, you now have the definitive Thundercats map ...Snarff.

Remember the Shogun Warriors...now those guys were cool. Instead Hollywood has decided to do a live action Transformer movie. Oh well. If only it could be as cool as this guys
transforming VW Beetle.

I really do love the 80's ....honest.

Meow

I really wish I could see Catwoman on the big screen. No not Halle Berry , that movie looks awful. But Orson Welles 1944 version of Batman. You never heard of it? Well neither had I. Because of an argument between Welles and the Studios it never got past preproduction and casting. Back in 2003 Mark Millar wrote about the never made film. Orson Welles was to star and direct as Batman, Marlene Dietrich as Catwoman and Basil Rathbone as the Joker. Shot in film noir black and white.
An amazing article
well worth the read, even has original 1944 concept art.


Sounds unbelievable? the thing is, it is unbelievable, yet another internet hoax.
Oh well a fanboy can dream...

Noriaki Yuasa the director of Gamera died this week. In Honor, no Godzilla image this entry, instead here is a Gamera pic


From the director of Spirited Away comes Howl’s Moving Castle. Check out the trailer.

Architect Frank Gehry has worked with MIT developing future cars,complete with a GPS like device that would tell you where empty parking spaces are.
Gehry cars

Speaking of cars check out the making of the new Audi/ Escher commercial
This has been making the rounds on various websites but is worth mentioning and seeing. CG used to mess with your perception of reality, subtly
Read the article here
And watch the commercial here

that way you don’t have to register for anything

Audi is getting a lot of exposure lately. The design of the future Audi in I’Robot is interesting, Though I thought the Lexus in Minority Report seemed more interesting

And no matter what you think of Hummer, you have to love the music they use. Well if you are a synthesizer geek, like me . Anyway, just found out they are using LFO "Freak" and Trabants "Enter Spacebar" for their commercials.
if anyone cares...

Recently I read about a guy that was getting a lot of complaints about the quality of his online comic strip. He basically said send me money and I can quit my day job and make this better. Through his Paypal account he got over $30,000. And guess what, he quit his day job. So...
I’m thinking of putting a Paypal donation button up here. If you donate more than $50, I’ll send you an original sketch of you favorite superhero, RPG character, whatever...Basically I’m begging for money. But I’m willing to compensate you for it. Anyone interested? Comments?

Oh almost forgot, Episode III title revealed today...I predicted this a long time ago.





hmm, these are getting too long. Okay I’m now updating twice a week,
See you Tuesday night.

Happy New Year

In both ancient Sumeria and Egypt, July 23 is the start of the new year
The Dog Days of Summer also began today, when Sirius the Dogstar rises from behind the sun.

Cthulhu Loves You

It suddenly dawned on me I never explained what I meant when I said I was working with this plushy guy.

I did some card designs for
Fantasy Flights Games new Call of Cthulhu collectible card game. Look for it later this year.


Syndicate Agent

Pallid mask sketch



A lot has changed since Spidey saved those Hostess Pies. Superheroes are hot right now and are being used everywhere.
Thierry Muegler's new mens fragrance, is unfortunately jumping on this bandwagon. The new, the ugly, BMen ad.



And if you just happen to be in a French speaking country you may just see Superman warning you about
AIDS


Wanted vinyl album. If you happen to see this record let me know.



This year is the 50th anniversary of Godzilla, I'm going to add random Godzilla pictures to my blog throughout the year. Enjoy!



This past week has been the week of bizarre rumors. Everyday there is another Superman movie rumor. But that's just the beginning. Most of these are from Variety:

VARIETY reports that Marvel Comics plans to adapt SPIDER-MAN into a Broadway stage musical. Already some very big names are being thrown around: Julie Taymor (who helmed the stage version of THE LION KING and directed TITUS and FRIDA) is interested in directing, while U2 would provide the music and Neil Jordan (INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE) would write the script

Michael Moore is being looked into for directing the 5th Harry Potter movie

And Jack Black is reportedly up for the role of the Green Lantern feature film.

I'll believe it when I see it.

I want Ice Cream :-(

It's been stiffling hot in Richmond these days, too hot.
As I was writing this, the gentle sounds of an ice cream truck could be heard in the distance. I strained looking for him, but no signs of anyone transporting the frozen dairy goodness. Then out of the haze the truck appeared, brightly colored decals and soothing tones. I was going to get some ice cream. I ran out of my aparment, the drivers eyes locked on me, I waved my cash to entice. My mouth watered. What would I get? A frozen chocolate eclair? a chipwich? or the always patriotic red white and blue rocket popsicle?
Then the unthinkable happened, he turned away. He hadn't seen me at all. The truck sped off...the music echoing.
Childhood trauma, shouldn't happen when your 30 something.

Trying out something different.



Done in Photoshop.

I'm thinking of selling merch. Would anyone be interested in calendars, mousepads, lunchboxes, or t-shirts with your favorite Nekokaiju art on it?
leave me a comment to let me know, any ideas would be appreciated.

A long time ago I used to work at a restaurant called LaChapelle. Now with LaChapelle long ago out of business, who would have thought years later that that building would be used in a Ben Burtt movie( The Ben Burrt, Star Wars sound designer). My six degrees to George Lucas just got a little closer. Click below to see how the building was used. One of these days I'm going to own that old church.

Technology and art combine in the oddest ways. Check out the
Phonecam art exhibit

Over at Pulse they have a preview of David Mack's new Kabuki comic coming out July 21st. Beautiful pages


There seems to be a new trend in using small little flash games to promote new albums coming out. Belle&Sebastian has this fun game with a book worm chewing on books. Great for wasting time, not great if your in an internet cafe paying for time.
Wrapped up in Books
Polyphonic Spree also has a flash game, looks like something I've played before, but is delightfully surrealistic.
Quest for the Rest

I recently saw SkinnyPuppy live. An amazing show.
East Bay Express has an interview article that has the most concise history of the band I've seen and still not leave anything out. Worth the read. Even if your not a fan of the pup.


One can only imagine what a Skinny Puppy flash game would look like. I think after a while the visuals would get to you. Gnawing at your brain.


okay that's enough for today....I'm going to get ice cream.

I'm back

As was explained earlier, my computer problems overwhelmed me.
And anyone who knows me personally, is aware my personal life has been quite overwhelming also. But I'm back! And the new improved Nekokaiju Studios blog, now has comments! So please leave me a note here and there.(All you have to do is click the date below the post and then scroll down and leave a comment) Also I'm going to have the promised weekly updates....gasp. I know I've promised this before, but with preparing for Dragon*Con and several major projects on the horizon, there is plenty to talk about and many new sketches to be seen.

I'm now also working at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It's nice to be closer to art. I am constantly inspired. Overwhelming also, but in a good way. I've added the VMFA's link over to the right, to show you where I now work. A coworker there introduced me to the art of Bertha Lum. She was the leading American Japonisme artist of the early 1900's. How I had missed her before, I don't know. Be sure to look her up, amazing prints.
Geisha sketch: Bertha Lum inspired.


This morning before work, I got to see the Wimbledon match between Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova. It's around this time of year I realize how much I enjoy tennis. Sad I don't remember the rest of the year and actually get out and play.But I'm sure tonight I'll run some old MAME tennis games and get an intense finger/keyboard workout.
It's very exciting watching an up and coming star, Sharapova was amazing, someone who actually lives up to the hype. I had heard in the Australian Open she was asked to tone down her moans and groans when she hits the ball. There was no toning down in Wimbledon. So cool to see so much effort rewarded. And so young. It's sad the day you realize most professional sports players are younger than your are. Unfortunately that day came long ago for me.


(edit July 4th/ Just saw the Roddick and Federer finals. Just incredible)

test

test

Sometimes, I feel like Marvin the Robot.
Life, ah life...
Anyway I've been having tons of computer problems, that seem to compound on each other. If you have sent me an email recently, I apologize if I haven't responded yet. In the meantime, it's probably easier to reach me at
nekokaiju@aol.com for a little while.
woooo....
And on this anniversary of Chernobyl, a fascinating, scary journal, on how the city looks now...
Ghost Town

Very compelling reading and images. A woman taking a Kawasaki through the deadzone.

So I'm now working with this guy

Beware of his fuzzy plushness. ....More news shortly.

This year looks very exciting for media, so many exciting things coming out,
from THX-1138 Special Edition to Star Wars finally on DVD. This just announced
The new Skinny Puppy album, May 25th.

Papier- mache' Rhino rampages Tokyo!




I've started work on some images for The Force.Net's Virtual Sequels project.
It's a large fan project envisioning Star Wars Episodes 7, 8, and 9.
Here's a sneak preview of one of my pictures....
a Doug Chiang influenced image

In 1231 Pope Gregory IX announced a link between the devil and black cats.
This explains a lot. You see I use a Wacom tablet with a stylus for creating digital drawings, my cat eyes me using it, jealous. He needs petting. I go to get a drink, come back ....the stylus is gone. My feline friend sits smuggly.
Later I find the stylus under the sofa. This happens a lot. I've come to have to hide the stylus from my furry demon. Only now I've noticed he's eyeing this keyboard.....

Bender Revealed as new Star Wars Villain

Wooo! Finally an update. The NekoKaiju site will be up by the end of the month. It will be a gallery of my images and ways to purchase artwork.
Coming Soon.

I just wanted to say goodbye to Helmut Newton. His images will be missed.
Suprisingly surreal, a true master of black and white and fashion photography.
His images have affected how I compose a picture and his visions have invaded my dreams. Shocking and powerful.

Here are some links:
The SFX site for the Dutch film Zephyr. A movie about cleaning the wreckage of a giant space battle. A unique look. Well worth downloading the FX trailer.

Zephyr


And here's a link to the Korean movie DragonsWar. Dragons destroying villages, good stuff.

D-War


And Variety is reporting that Charlize Theron has been signed to do a live action version of Aeon Flux. Be interesting how this pans out.

And about my title headline and following image;
According to the SW.Com newsletter,
"Known to many fans as the voice of Bender on "Futurama," John DiMaggio not only plays a Padawan in the micro-series, but is also the menacing voice of General Grievous in the series. General Grievous is an Episode III character who makes his debut in the final episode of Star Wars: Clone Wars."

"We want to make a world that is seen through a dirty plane of glass."
-The Brothers Quay

Never let an art teacher tell you old is not an aesthetic
Fascinating article on the Brothers Quay


Doug Chiang has an update and a couple of new images for the next Robota trailer.
And I'm not sure if I mentioned it before, but be sure to check out Chiang's and Orson Scott Card's Robota book.
www.dchiang.com


And here is a quick image I did for an Atlanta Star Wars club

Okay in the past couple of months, I've been near tornados, in the middle of a hurricane and now an earthquake.

My friends in California will think I'm crazy, but a 4.5 earthquake for 30 seconds is pretty scary.

It started with a boom, a growing rumbling, things falling off my shelves, my trashcan fell over, Christmas tree shaking., the whole apartment shaking. I ran outside. I thought my furnace was about to explode. And then I realized it wasn't just my house. But for those first few seconds I had no idea what was going on and that was scary.

Okay I don't normally post these silly quizzes on my blog, but this one cracked me up. ..I'm not that depressed ...really.....


As if you were born into a world of tears, you
always tend to look at the darker things in
life. Inside you crave attention yet push away
society, and you're a hopeless romantic. Drawn
to things like the occult and mysteries, you
spend your time daydreaming


What Type of Soul Do You Have ?
brought to you by Quizilla

And on a serious note.
Save the Red Pandas!


Something needs to change over at the National Zoo.
23 animals have died because of neglect.
The Washington Post has an interesting sad article
here

Yes all roads lead to Star Wars. It's kind of odd really, Kevin Bacon should feel jealous. I know when I google the oddest things, inevitably I'm linked to Star Wars.

While looking up Photoshop techniques, I came across this.
Photoshop 'exists because of Star Wars'


I must admit the first time I heard about the Hilton sisters I thought people were referring to The Hilton Sisters.
The musical Siamese twins that did sideshows and vaudeville in the late 20's and 30's.
They appeared in Todd Browning's masterpiece movie Freaks. And yes, I can even make a Star Wars connection here. One of the freaks was legless and walked on his hands and has often been said to be an influence on the design of R2-D2

The Goodyear Blimps crashes!



A stunning image of the young Myrna Loy

Rabbit Rabbit