Focusing
I'm sitting here thinking to myself that I need to write something new for 2008. No, wait. I need to write something really PROFOUND for 2008. Which is a rather intimidating challenge, to be honest. It's a challenge because toward the end of 2007 I began to lose focus on this site. I started to slack on updates because of many other new and exciting ideas that had been brewing in my head. But since none of you are mind-readers, all that you got was the slack. My people were beginning to lose faith, so to speak.
It was with one great swooshing sound of an epiphany that I realized where I'd misplaced what I needed the most (feel free to add your own sound effects). Sometimes things can be so obvious that they are the most easily overlooked. Thanks to Twitter, and friends like Matthew Oliphant and Colin Devroe, I am reminded that I already have the keys to success in the form of my Artcast, all I have to do is keep driving the machine forward.
The Artcast has been a far more popular experiment than I ever expected. I really thought that nobody would be interested in watching me draw the way I do. Obviously, I was wrong. In 2008 I vow to not only continue the drawing for my audience, but to dedicate more time to it, and release each episode on a regular schedule (twice each month). I promise that the Artcast will become a stronger presence here on this website, and the near future will hold many more opportunities for you to become involved as a viewer.
To accomplish this, I need to first evaluate what the problem is. I know that the reason I let the Artcast slip so bad, was because of how easy it was to fall off my radar. "Out of sight, out of mind." is a perfect quote for what happened lately. Higher priority things took over, even though creating each episode was a minimal effort. And even though I can be apologetic for not doing this sooner, I can at least understand that forgiveness doesn't come until there are results to stand by.
So, I've created a Google Calendar that lists upcoming episodes, with descriptions of what will be planned for each episode that you can view (and subscribe to). This calendar will be updated on a regular basis, to both keep you informed and keep me honest about getting it done.
As always, I'm still seeking ideas for episodes. Feel free to use the contact form to send over your hugs and thoughts.
Comments Back to Top
1. Leah
Jan 3rd, 2008
Your art work is awesome.
Sending peace and hugs from Israel.
2. Colin Devroe
Jan 3rd, 2008
Excellent news!
3. David Martin
Jan 3rd, 2008
so yeah, what’s the date for the “illustrated skinny metoday version of (DAVID MARTIN) playing viva pinata party animals.”
Seriously, I look forward to much more AP awesomeness to come.
4. Indranil
Jan 5th, 2008
Awesome! Can’t wait for the new episodes :D
And happy new year!!! :D
5. Ty t'smedia
Jan 7th, 2008
Reading a few of your other posts just now, pity they were closed for commenting.
In the moment here then, the calendar sounds like a great idea.
Curious, since I’m not caught up on all of your current content, do you use a graphic pen tablet.
I recently gave away my old graphire pen, to a friend who had lost theirs. I had never used mine.
It was when she said some people just trace stuff that it sunk in, hey why am I not doing illustration with a pen?
Also the SM post here inspired me too:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/03/hand-drawing-style-in-modern-web-design/
It’s funny how not being able to do something makes you committed to doing it all the more.
So I’m getting my pen back or buying a new one.
Wacom has some great pens and also photoshop plugins. Do you know any good resources for those, I haven’t found much so far, like back in the day when I bought the darn thing, and stuck it in my closet.
There’s a lot to be done, that can’t be done with a mouse, and for sure I suck with bezier paths.
A pen and tracing even as a selection tool to knock out portions of an image or make them look doodled, would totally rock!
6. Ty t's media
Jan 7th, 2008
Hi Anton, I almost forgot, I do have a suggestion…
On the artcast pages the video player loads at the beginning of the movie, and shows a snapshot at the beginning of the movie. What you really need is a screengrab of the last frame, or at least a teaser screengrab of what the artcast is leading up to, to draw the audience in.
7. Anton
Jan 9th, 2008
Hey everyone, the first episode of 2008 is ready to go live in just a few minutes.
Ty: Putting a teaser at the beginning of the video is definitely one of the changes that I’m making for the new year. Starting with episode 10 (the one that’s uploading now). By the way, I use a 6x8 Wacom Intuos2.
8. Caspian
Jan 13th, 2008
You made my day. As you inspired me to splash out on a Wacom Intuis I keep looking up your site to help me develop my skills. My New Years resolution is just that; to get better! I’m looking forward to your posts.
PS Can you suggest places/advice on brushes for painting? Even setting up your own natural media ones, (I was trying to recreate a thick 45ยบ brush stroke that dragged the paint around, in CS3 but still can get nowhere near)