Another tentacle in my empire

Monday, September 4th, 2007

So I've been mulling something over for a while now, and finally felt that the time was right to do it. As you know, I like to make things. Models, props,paper ephemera, a big mess in every room of the house, etc. And though I love love love to make models, it's almost always rooted in a sort of master forgery mindset. I'm either trying to replicate a real world item in miniature, or recreate a filming miniature from a favorite film. These are incredibly rewarding exercises, as they demand skills that I love to grow and develop - history, kit part identification, archaeology, adapting modern materials to better serve designs, etc. Even the MaK models, though incredibly flexible in their creative potential to modify, have to inhabit an established "universe" that has a specific look and feel. Again - I adore doing this, and I 'm not about to stop any time soon, but I wanted to do something that no one else has really done, and forge into uncharted territories.

So, over dinner with Lisa, Tom, and Jane, I spilled the beans - I told them of my idea - I wanted to make art/wearable art using the materials I am familiar with - model kits. Everyone thought it was a great idea, so Saturday night/Sunday morning was spent making a necklace/pendant with two inexpensive model kits. I want to make a how-to book that people can use, to learn more about these things I'm doing and am about to do. It's a weird bridge between two totally different scenes that have a lot of things in common with each other. I have a lot of traditional fine art techniques that I picked up from the years I spent working at the art store, some rudimentary jewelry making know-how that I picked up from being around beaders and crafters, and all of the kitbashing chops I have been recently showcasing here, on the 'ol website. It's going to be a really fun and exciting Fall, developing this new little thing... so go here to see what the hell I'm talking about.

And be sure to check out the progress on my Escape Pod - complete with parts I cast myself!

Some art for you

Thursday, September 6th, 2007

A few weeks ago I saw a hilarious cartoon, lampooning a Cingular commercial. It turns out that she does commission work, so I hired her to draw Lisa and I fighting bad guys. Click the stamp in the upper left to check out what she did - thank you, Rebecca!! Go hire her - seriously. She banged this thing out in under 10 days! And gave me the file so I can print it out all big-like! I am beside myself!

Banner Weekend

Monday, September 17th, 2007

What a great couple of days! Everything has been pretty hectic lately, but this past weekend was really wonderful.

Shortly before the weekend started, I made my own Lolcat image...

...and I got a Stormtrooper helmet that has direct lineage back to the first Star Wars film!

I even got something amazing for my computer - best $20 I ever spent. Now my camera cards can slide into the laptop with no wires to fuss with.

The reader sits flush in the Express Card slot, too. Love it.

Friday night, Lisa and I went to dinner with Tom and Jane. We ate Chinese food (it was amazing) and then we sat outside at a Starbucks and enjoyed the great Fall weather - a nice early treat thanks to a cold front that I believe is, as I write this, dissipating. On Saturday, I attended the Maraudercon Model convention, hosted by the local IPMS. I went with Jeff and John, and got to meet Mike and Isel! Tom popped by and scored some great buys - we all walked out with models! And oh what displays - there is a lot of talent locally!

This was by far my favorite. Someone took the "Surf Nazi" joke and really went above and beyond.

A Schwimmwagen converted into a Wave Runner!

A VW Combi becomes a halftrack! And look at the woodgrain on the surfboards - this guy was good.

His kitbashing skills are amazing. Beautifully constructed and painted.

Even the ground cover was wonderful.

I couldn't get enough.

This was great too - a panter crosses the path of a Panther!

So, I entered my models into this contest, to see what would happen, and to show my stuff. The Y-Wing and Escape Pod were met with some curious glances, and some of the armor guys studied them, picking out the familiar shapes in their foreign arrangements. I ended up winning a Gold medal for "Best Sci-Fi Vehicle" for my Maschinen Krieger Falke, and my Luna Pawn/Großerhund won the Gold medal for "Best Sci-Fi Robot" and the "Best in Sci-fi (over all) plaque! Kinda neat! Humbling, and very cool to see the MaK stuff get some love - thanks to the IPMS people for a wonderful show!

The Y-Wing and Escape Pod, now collecting dust on my wall - huzzah!

Another angle, as I love this angle on the Stormtrooper helmet.

So yesterday, Lisa and I spent some time on our back porch playing Scrabble. She had been adventuring with a neighbor's cat on Saturday, which we have named Gingimon (Ginger + Cinnamon = Gingimon). He/She came back while we were Scrabbling.

Simon and Coco were on RED ALERT.

Coco, tail puffed to show she means business, scopes the scene. Gingimon eats, oblivious. Coco slinks back inside...

Simon, tail alert-but-normal, scopes the scene. Gingimon eats, oblivious. Simon trots back inside.

Coco, tail puffed to show she meant business, returns and growls. Gingimon stares, unimpressed.

Then both Coco and Simon went inside, where I imagined some sulking took place.

See "BLAZE" on the left? Triple Word Score! Another triumphant win for Jason! Heh.

So here are my awards, with their respective models - awwww.

Guess I need to build another X-Wing, eh?

These are pretty cool.

And here is the necklace I got Lisa for our two year wedding anniversary - she loves it - another win!!

Song in iTunes? "Now My Heart is Full" by Mozzer.