blog entry
| Mountain Head |
| Jan 25, 2008 10:57 am |
| So it’s a little different being at home instead of at school, but I definitely have plenty of projects to keep myself occupied. We’ll talk about those projects, right after we watch this great little animated short. Sorry if the subtitles are hard to read.
This Youtube Pick of the Week is Atama Yama, which translates to “mountain head.” This strange, Japanese short was directed by Koji Yamamura. It takes a couple of viewings to really appreciate. It has sort of a Triplets of Belleville aesthetic. Right now on Gallery Avenue there are two new images for you to appreciate in the Drawergeeks section. Just click on the “From the Gallery” link at the left. Also, Mal and Chad has been updating five days a week, so be sure to check on that. Preparations for my semester abroad in Japan is going well. I’m buying tickets through a travel agency. The plan is to leave on March 12 and be back at the end of July. The crazy thing is that instead of flying straight home, I’m planning on going straight to Comicon from Japan. This is going to be one long, fun trip. Also, Mike Maihack, the editor of Parable, has given me the opportunity to interview other cartoonists on the Parable staff. My first interview with James Mar is out on the Parable website, and you can read it here. Finally, I’ve started teaching classes on cartooning here at my hometown. So far I’ve taught one class for elementary schoolers, and this afternoon I’ll be teaching students who are in middle school and high school. It’s been really fun so far. I collaborated with a first grader and a third grader to make a comic about character named Pointy-Head who has lunch with a pirate and feels sick afterwards. The pirate takes him to the hospital, and after a visit with the doctor, Pointy feels better. | 6 comments, Add Comment
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Um, if you don\'t mind me saying, the feminine figures you draw seem to sort of lack the feminine-ish figure, and I feel that it makes them look more masculine than normal. I\'m an amateur, of course, and I wouldn\'t really know as much as you would, but I\'m just saying, is all. I hope I\'m not offending you in any way. I would never intend that.
Back on the subject of Japan, which city will you be landing in? I hear Sapporo has good food. Or... was it Nagoya? Hm...
Tony: Thanks for the critique on my female figures. I\'ve definitely got to practice that. I\'ve most only focused on drawing males because I\'m a little embarrassed to draw females, ha ha.
And I\'m actually going to Comicon in America, on the way back from Japan. So, we\'ll see what happens. Thanks for the comments guys!
Trust me, people will understand if you practice feminine figures. If you\'re practicing your technique and explain that as you draw women, people will get the message, not that anyone\'s out to get you. \'\'^^
Drawing women is just like drawing a guy, as well. If you\'re not drawing anything \"naughty,\" then you have no reason to feel insecure, and if you are drawing women in a sexy manner, of course you should be proud of it! There\'s nothing that brings out the best of your art like confidence.
If I could recommend artists you could inspire off of, I would recommend both Frank Cho and Phillip Jackson. Phil has had the cow in his comic, and Cho is a widely-regarded genius. When I try to get better, myself, I always study other artists, apply their techniques to my drawings and make those techniques my own. Keep up the great work, and keep drawing! I love your style.
It has amazing music and animation and I\'m sure you\'ll appreciate it.
See ya,
Amsy