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

It's interesting when times are tough you really find out who your true friends are. Who sticks by you through all your egocentric behavior, supporting you, and then who abandons you. I know I haven't been the best of friends lately, but thank you all who have been there for me, supporting me....thanks

Here are some interesting links:

The soon to be classic ..I think,
Jojo in the Stars



Hanging Corpse Admired as Sculpture on Campus (that about says it all, but click here for the full story)



And Angelie Jolie in Alexander the Great...drinking diet coke.

First my site crashes, then my computer crashes, and then my brain crashes.
Regrouping....

Nov. 19th 1581
Ivan The Terrible Kills his son.
Nov. 19th 1703
The Man in the Iron Mask dies in the Bastille.
Nov. 19th 1954
Sammy Davis Jr. looses his eye in an automobile accident.
Nov. 19th 1965
Pop-Tarts are created on this day!