I've been working on a lot of sketches lately. I've got this game I'm working on with some friends, we just had a meeting tonight to iron out some story details. I've done quite a few concepts on some characters for it. Even though I'm just the artist, I've written the most story for the game too. Hmmm. In addition to the characters, I designed one of the rooms where a cinematic sequence takes place, and also I've done a storyboard for that sequence which I definitely will post when it's completed.

The other day one of my teachers from a few terms ago asked me if I wanted to help some of his students with some artwork. So I talk to one of the guys and agreed to do it, stupidly, before knowing what I needed to do concepts for. Apparently they want some bio/mech characters done. Now, I really don't know why they chose me or what kind of art the teacher showed them. I've never drawn mechs before. So I've done some research over the last couple of days, looked at quite a bit mech art styles. Found some work called NYC Mech. Pretty cool stuff. So I've draw two bio/mechs now. I'm gonna have to ask them if they mind if I post them here. I'll post em if they say it's alright.

In other news, my job fucking sucks and is giving me 14 hours over what my availability says I can work. I really hate that company, and I hope my stores assistant manager dies a horribly painful death. Preferably involving rusty spoons, explosive iguanas, and an acid bath. The new manager of my department is even more lazy than the last, which I didn't really think was possible. Every time I pull into the parking lot I have to resist the urge to drive my car through the front entrance. I would rather be stuck in a roomful of rabid badgers than work there for even one more week. *sigh* To sum it up, I'm for hire.

I'm working on a new painting, the fire elemental to my last deviations water elemental. Looks sick as hell so far. It's a whole scene, I've been trying to practice painting more than just the figures. Doing a little more character design on the elemental too. I have about four pages of sketches I did one night of different ideas for elementals. I'm still rockin' those out too, 'cause I haven't concreted the earth or wind ones elementals. I have two sketches for earth I'm going to expand on, and the wind one I've got three really lame sketches.

I'm building the my sketch 'Samurai Girl' in my 3d modeling class right now. I'm almost done with the basic body, just need hands and feet for it now, and then to the tweaking to get the shapes right. By the end of next week I should be starting to texture it up.

On a music note, check out this song by Temple of the Dog. It's a killer blues style song. Cornell and the guitar player fuckin' rip it up.
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So I bought the new Alice in Chains album at midnight, and I've listened to it 4 times. Right off the bat, I wanna say that I think Jerry might be channeling the spirit of Dimebag Darrell. Some of the riffage is very Dime like. The main riff in Check My Brain and Last of My Kind are the songs that remind me of Dime. Last of My Kind has a pretty awesome chorus for Duvall too, he really belts it on that one, I was impressed. However, most of the time it seems like JC is singing (which doesn't bother me at all, his style is awesome). The guitar parts in Your Decision go back to JC's solo albums. When the Sun Rose Again has a really cool acoustic riff that drives the whole song, kind of a tribal feel to the song. I forgot to mention how catchy Check My Brain is, I've had it stuck in my head since I saw the video a week or so ago. The rest of the songs are either in classic AiC style, or just kind of... bland I guess. I like the album alot, was it AiC or Cantrells best work? Nah, I don't think so, but it's still awesome as fuck to hear new stuff outta Jerry. BUY THE ALBUM! I hope they keep putting out albums.

*edit* How could I forget the title track? Elton John played piano on it, and there's also a different mix with just piano. It's a really well written song. Gave me goose bumps actually.

Also, on the art side, I did do some painting last night while i was listening to it in addition to what i posted. I just started my 3d character design class, and i'm working on my first face model right now.

I've been on vacation since Friday, and it's been awesome as hell. Spending time with my wife and family, kicking back and relaxing. Ah, sweet time off...

I just bought two new albums, Megadeth's new one Endgame, and Shadows Fall new one Retribution. Haven't listened to SF yet, but I have taken a listen to the new Megadeth album. It... is... FUCKING AMAZING. It was like Dave went back to Rust In Peace and said to himself, "Where should I have taken this after this album?" It's heavy, fast, and melodic. Not like anything since RIP for sure, but not even like RIP. For starters, it's way heavier. The new lead guitarist equals Marty (doesn't surpass Marty's genius, but I may be biased ). I will have to take another listen though, I was busy while listening and I want to take a closer listen. But from what I heard, the guitar and overall songwriting seems to have taken the forefront, opposed to the last few 'Deth albums where the singing seemed to be the most produced aspect. I'm not sure what others are saying so far about it though, and I don't think I want to. Critics of music seem to think to higher of themselves than music so it'll probably be partly negative. Stupid critics. Oh, and for anyone who might still be wondering who won (Metallica or Megadeth), it's Megadeth's win. Although, just for the record I've always thought that since I heard my first Megadeth tune.

Pretty much just posting a preview (below) of the new painting I'm working on. Man, the cintiq is just badassness!

So I got my computer back, good as new. Well, as good as it was before the graphics card died on me anyways. So, back to school work and painting.

Also, my Cintiq should be here any day now. There will probably be a surge in paintings as i'm test driving it.

Check out the teeny preview of what I'm working on below.

So my computer just took a shit. I was going to paypal to send the payment for the Cintiq I just won on ebay, and the screen just blinks out. There was really no warning. Damn graphics card went out. So it's at the Laptop Help Desk at school, hopefully it's got a new one in it by Monday, and hopefully all my shit is ok on the HD. I got work to do dammit. I can't afford to start over on all my school projects, and it'd suck even more to lose the painting I was working on.

On the up side of today, (or yesterday for you actually, but all one day for my night-walker self) I did pay for the the Wacom Cintiq later on in the day. Hopefully that will be here by Monday too. I'm chomping at the bit already to try it out. Such an upgrade from the litte bitty 4x6 I was using. I quite literally wore that dinky thing out; the cord is fraying, the rubber grip on the pen is gone, the paint was rubbed down to the plastic, and there was dust ingrained around the corners of the tablet under the clear protective shield. Rust in pieces trusty tablet, you've been replaced with a younger sexier model with more whistles and bells than you can even dream of.

*edit*
Apparently, the contrast on my computer screen must have been waaaaay off, because I'm noticing some huge issues with some of my paintings looking from this computer. That's ghey.

I'd just like to say that District 9 is possibly one of the coolest sci-fi movies ever made. I didn't expect it to be like a documentary, but it was still amazing. I don't want to give anything away, so I'm just going to say that the designs for everything are awesome. I didn't find the story lacking either. If you haven't seen it, I recommend you go and see it soon. Just make sure you're not wearing any socks, because it's sure to just rock them right off your feet anyways.

Like an evil version of yourself, whispering in your own ear and sowing seeds of fear and loathing, is self doubt. Everyone has a little self doubt every once in awhile. We can't avoid it, it's part of our nature. Our evil twin, ever a part of us. Why don't more people turn around and beat the shit out of their twin with a wet noodle and a five iron? If you have things you want to achieve, get the fuck out there and achieve them! Figure out what your dream is, and hunt that mother fucker down with no mercy. These are your dreams, this is your life, and it's not going to come easy. You will be your own most vicious villain, your own darkest hour. Fight, and triumph.

On a different note, I've got a painting that's coming along nicely. Knocking away on that. Doing some concepts and working on some 3d models also. I'm Bidding on a Wacom Cintiq on ebay since apparently Amazon sucks ass. I ordered a tablet from them on July 22nd, and it was supposed to be my b-day gift. On Aug 12 i get an email saying that the shipping has been delayed to Aug 26- Sept 7th or some shit. I'm not fucking waiting for fail like that.

Midterms are almost over! I'm kinda pissed though, I lost about 2 hours of work on one of my 3ds Max files. I'm gonna have to do all that shit all over again. Lame. One more midterm left, 3d Animation.
Saw this movie recently called Six String Samurai. Pretty badass. It's about a guy traveling to Las Vegas to try and become the next 'King of Rock n' Roll' because the current King (Elvis) just died. I'm thinking of doing a painting of the main character, Buddy.

I'm putting off homework in favor or artwork. And reworking css code. Shame on me.