Thought I'd post a few images from the third Nathaniel Fludd, coming out this summer. I cannot tell you how much I love working on these books. I get to research far off lands, learn all of the local culture, and then add mystical beasts to those places. I am a fortunate girl. R.L. LaFevers has more Nate adventures coming, so stay tuned!
I found this number deeeeeep in the portfolio box. I remember having a bit of extra time one winter-session during school and deciding to do a sketch based on the man, the myth, the legend... Vermeer. Due note the wise paper choice! Tear it out of the ol' sketchbook, Kel. Ok, so I've learned a few things. Paper is one of the more important ingredients to making any artwork. I am a little surprised this one isn't completely yellow yet.
Hello everyone! I thought I would announce a show that I will be in alongside Jarrett Krosoczka at Wenham's Gallery Della-Piana! It will feature original illustrations and sketches from a various amount of children's books. If you have a little time, come swing by and say hello!
Here are the details: WHERE: Gallery Della-Piana 152R Main St Wenham, MA 01984 (978) 468-1944 http://www.gallerydellapiana.com/ WHEN: Opening Saturday, February 27th, 2010 from 4-6pm
The show will be hanging from Feb 27 - Apr 24th. Regular gallery hours are Thur-Sat 11-6pm. Many piece will be for purchase!
I was talking with friend Dan Santat about some of our most beloved video games. Burgertime, Spy Hunter, Keystone Coppers, Paperboy... and he came to mention "Tapper". I had NO clue what he was talking about, and I am now REELING with delight. Check this this out!
The Tapper game screen features four bars. Patrons arrive periodically at the end of the bar opposite the player and demand drinks. The player must draw and serve drinks to the patrons as they slowly advance towards the player. If any customers reach the player's end of the bar, they grab the player-as-bartender and toss him out the far end of the bar, costing the player a life. In Tapper, the player plays the part of a bartender serving drinks to eager customers.
The player serves customers by filling a mug at one of the four taps. Once the mug is full, the player releases the tap which automatically slides the mug towards the advancing customer. Customers catch mugs that are slid towards them, as long as they are not already drinking a beer, or otherwise distracted. If a mug is not caught by a customer (whether the customer is already drinking or distracted, or if there is no customer), then it falls off the bar on the other end, resulting in a loss of a life for the player. If a customer does catch the mug, though, then he or she is pushed back some amount towards the opposite end of the screen. The goal is to push the customer completely off the screen, but if they are not then they will stay and consume their drink in place. When a customer finishes his drink, he slides the empty mug back towards the player, after which the customer resumes his advance on the player. The player must collect the empty mugs before they reach the end of the bar and fall to the ground. A mug falling to the ground costs a life.
Periodically, customers will leave tips on the bar for the player. These tips can be left at any place on the bar. The tip will appear after a specific number of empty mugs are released by the customers, and will appear wherever the customer who releases the required mug is standing. For example, in all levels, the first tip is left by the customer who returns the second empty mug, and will be left beside wherever this customer is standing. By collecting the tip, the player earns extra points and initiates "entertainment" for that level (dancing girls on the wild-west level, cheerleaders on the sports level, etc). While the entertainment is active, some fraction of the customers will be distracted and stop advancing towards the player, but they will also stop catching mugs.
In order to complete a level, the player must clear the entire bar of customers. Once this is done, the player is presented with a short vignette in which the bartender draws a drink for himself, drinks it, then tosses the empty mug into the air with varying (usually humorous) results, such as kicking it and shattering it or having the mug fall atop his head and cover it.
But that's not it. Check out the actual arcade game. It has actual taps that you need to pull down to serve. This is... this is something special. God bless the old days. No way that this sort of thing would ever exist in a kids arcade now. Wait, do they even have arcades anymore? I think I really just dated myself.
Been busy starting the finishes to my monster book. It's been pretty fun! I'm working with more of an underdrawing and it has been very helpful to maintain the shape and drawing while moving the paint around on top. I feel as though with this addition, I can work a bit more with looser textures and bolder brush strokes. I've also changed up my normal process by working on several paintings at one time. I feel like it has been much more productive!
