Friday, January 29, 2016

REVIEW || ImagineFX | Issue 130 - January 2016

Detail of Art by Ross Tran from ImagineFX Anniversary Cover
Detail of Art by Ross Tran from ImagineFX Anniversary Cover

I couldn't wait to open my January 2016 10th Anniversary Edition ImagineFX (Issue 130) with the painterly Frazetta inspired cover art by artist Ross Tran, and interviews with Craig Mullins and Karla Ortiz prominently displayed on the spine.  I think I am going to have to buy a floating magazine frame to preserve and display this issue!  To be sure, this month's magazine did not disappoint.

The FXpose artists that stuck out to me were Mathias Zamecki (p. 10) with a painting of ruins and knights, and even more medieval work by Sean Sevestre (p. 18).  Article, "The Rise of Digital Art" (p. 20), covered positive and negative developments since the dawn of the digital age and with VR just entering the limelight, the future of digital art is only beginning.  One difference between then and now, the article points out, is that artists not only gleaning more inspiration online, but also making connections and learning from in-depth tutorials.  The new online digital artist gallery, community, and job site, ArtStation, is one ways artists can connect.  Founder, Leonard Teo boasts of the website's ability to link artists to both potential clients and businesses.

I always enjoy the studio tour section, with so many wonderful ideas on how to set up a space and plenty of inspiration galore.  A look inside artist Long Pham's home studio (p. 28), gave me confidence that my own home desk space is enough to get a good job done.  There are similarities to my own, especially when compared to other studios I have seen featured; it is small, clean, well organized, and utilitarian.  Honestly the perfect space for me!  Things of note were his traditional drawing tools on hand, preference of an Intuos 5 over a Cintiq (something I have been pondering), a filing drawer for reference material and sketches, and a fancy camera for photographing reference and practicing composition.  Thanks for the tour Long Pham!

OKAY Craig Mullins interview (p. 42)!!!  YESSS!  Gorgeous artwork on every page of this article, of course, especially love seeing it in print.  His story is inspirational, especially to those who have a past and even present of struggling (like me), as he has humble beginnings; never being top of his classes, including in high school, Pitzer College in Clairemont, and even the prestigious Art Center.  He finally got away to both put in time and hard work on his own, and to digest at his own pace everything he had learned previously and when he came back he was getting straight A's!  After his schooling he successfully worked for major studios and on top of that lived the dream, moving to Hawaii and onto freelance.  Craig says that in taking a step away he enjoyed opening up his sphere of influence, rather than solely being bombarded by co-workers and company ideas.  Loved the quote about his work on the recent film Noah, "Craig would draw it, and the crew would build it."  Alas, sad to discover, in reading about his reservations on working for the film, that Mullins is an atheist... please let me change your mind!!!  Another tip from Mullins I can totally relate to lately is to, "cut out distractions and be better at what you do."  That's kind of a motto I have silently adopted in the last few years.  His latest endeavors involve teaching (soon to be tutorial on Schoolism!!!) and going back into traditional drawing and painting, which in the latter I am anxiously anticipating a revived Golden Age!

Ok this is too much to handle, flip the page to Karla Ortiz (p.50)!!!  Oh the irony of being back to back with Craig Mullins in the same issue as from hearing Karla speak live I know they both have humble beginnings!  She got her big break in 2012 and just turned thirty, encouraging anyone?  Working for Marvel, Magic the gathering as well as book illustrations and teaching various workshops, she has her hands full.  She talks about in the future she wants to split her time between fine art, which allows more personal growth, and concept art.  Loved getting a glimpse into her traditional portfolio and process (p. 54), hearing about her family of artists history (reminding me of my own), as well as seeing her works in print too.

After all that awesomeness, I just don't have any time to read the workshops, but will catalogue them for later, especially Ross Tran's process on the cover art (p. 64), Craig Mullins' scene of awe and beauty (p. 68), Raphael Lacoste's film environment design (p. 92), and a large workshop on Photoshop tools (p. 98).  After reading some of the reviews, the Jot Dash or any stylus from Adonit look worthy of checking out, as well as the workshop by Brian Yam (p. 111).

Did I mention I love this issue?!

Friday, January 1, 2016

New Year, New Start: Art and Business Advice from the Bible

I couldn't think of a better way to start off 2016 than by putting all my cares/worries/ideas in God's hands and reflecting on His advice for us.  Here are a number of Biblical passages helpful for Artists and business people, hope you find it inspiring as we ring in the New Year!

. . . . . . .



My son, pay attention to what I say;

listen closely to my words.


Do not let them out of your sight,


keep them within your heart.


Proverbs 4:20&21



Pay careful attention to your own work for then you

will get the satisfaction of a job well done and you


won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Galatians 6:4



Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you

were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Colossians 3:23



Whatever your hand finds to do,

do it with all your might...

Ecclesiastes 9:10



Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.

Ecclesiastes 11:4



...You do not have

because you do not ask God.

When you ask, you do not receive,

because you ask with wrong motives,

that you may spend what you get on your

pleasures.

James 4:3




Trust in the Lord with all your heart


and lean not on your own understanding;


in all your ways acknowledge him,


and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5&6




Lazy hands make a man poor,

but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 10:4



He who works his land will have abundant food,


but he who chases fantasies lacks judgement.


Proverbs 12:11



A heart at peace gives life to the body,


but envy rots the bones.


Proverbs 14:21



Better a little with the fear of the Lord


than great wealth with turmoil.


Proverbs 15:16



It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,


nor to be hasty and miss the way.


Proverbs 19:2



A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil...


Proverbs 14:16



Many are the plans in a man's heart,


but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.


Proverbs 19:21



A man's own folly ruins his life,


yet his heart rages against the Lord.


Proverbs 19:3



Listen to advice and accept instruction,


and in the end you will be wise.


Proverbs 19:20



There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan


that can succeed against the Lord.


Proverbs 21:30



A man can do nothing better than to eat,


drink, and find satisfaction in his work.


This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for


without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?


Ecclesiastes 2:24&25




So I saw that there is nothing better for a man

than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot.


Ecclesiastes 3:22



If God is for us, who can be against us?


Romans 8:31




Commit to the Lord whatever you do,


and your plans will succeed.


Proverbs 16:3



. . . . . . .


Hope these verses are encouraging to my fellow Christian artists
as you seek to bring Him glory in all you do!

Here's to lots of new art in 2016!!!