http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:MichaelMathews&section=today deviantART RSS for by:MichaelMathews en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:43:14 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/27388030/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/27388030/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:40:05 PDT
So I have noticed a lot going on for people right now, people starting college, people dying, financial difficulties everywhere, but things are always changing- you solve one set of problems- you get new ones to deal with- sometimes the constant threat to your personal well-being can make it difficult to feel you are in a secure enough position to spend time on art. Maybe you too can relate to this? One of those life transition phases - where there has been or is going to be change.

Right now I am sort of in such a position - I have uploaded some sketches to scraps and will upload more, but not able to start into any of my bigger art projects just yet. HOWEVER I am getting a lot of inspiration that will help me when I do. On Saturday I went to visit the place where I could be teaching as of November- a city/town called Görlitz in Germany that extends into Poland - AND ITS AWESOME. When I was there the town was covered in props, and heavy machinery preparing it for a film being made for cinema audiences- the town has a rather unique architecture - cover the cobbled roads with mud and it looks like a medieval town. The town is filled with castles, medieval style houses and people playing nylon stringed guitars. PURE AWESOME- I took 1 gig of photos!! Will make great reference material. A lot of unemployment there, and not much to do, but it looks awesome and I guess my free time will be spent on art projects.

I dont know if I have the job there yet though, and even if I do get it I wont be teaching there till november - so I am looking at other work as well. I have been offered a job being a security guard at an old abandoned hospital - its creepy as hell, pure horror film - absolutely UNBELIEVABLE. Very resident evil. Think overgrown and overcome with trees, weeds, and plants and at the same time a GIANT building with several styles of architecture- some overly opulent and ancient with amazing facades - others modern and creepy - gives you the sense that bizarre experiments and horrible psychiatric events. And my job will be to wonder around it- its under 24 observation- so this means at night and at day.
I will be killed by ghosts and old medical equipment - but I will get some great photos for reference before I die.
It will be creepy as hell. Probably be attacked by rats and hear creepy screaming sounds. No doubt I will haunt the place after I die horribly. I cant wait!

besides that also got a phone call from interac today- about an interview for going over to Japan march and to teach there- obviously thats really complex- because if I get the job in Görlitz it will be difficult to leave...

Whatever the case I guess I am lucky I like such weird things - not many people would want to work in Görlitz (because of lack of nightlife) or the abandoned hospital (because of how incredibly freaky, dangerous and potentially boring it could be).

Other that that I was teaching tuesday and it was great . Young adults who are in a school for the unemployed essentially- to get them into the workforce. pretty cool 'kids', if I can call them that. I'd say they were around 18-21; I would be teaching the same type of people in Gorlitz.

Hopefully though just get this job thing sorted soon though, get to work on art. Though gorlitz is insane hours- so wont be easy.

anyway, thanks for reading. I hope your well

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/26888381/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/26888381/ Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:33:38 PDT
Finished my teaching course and preparing my CV and getting ready for interview questions. Going to be looking into teaching English here in Germany, but there is also an opportunity over in England where I could make use of both my psychology degree, teaching cert, and art skills - a job teaching art in a special needs school. So I am also look into that.

Other stuff though, had just woken up the other day and was about to go out around town for some things when my dad told me 'there could be a warrant out for your arrest' WTF?!
apparently they had just gotten some mail from a neighbor, that I owed in access of 40,000 in tax, that I now had to pay. Apparently this is because when I was working here as a portrait artist several years ago I had to be registered for tax as self employed. So they wanted me to pay tax for all that time plus more tax for leaving it so late.

So went to the finance office with my dad (because legal german isnt easy) to clear it up and say I have been studying in ireland these last few years and not working here.
They tried to sort it out so I only have to pay 45 euro. So some forms to fill in - but I cant help get the feeling that we don't have all the forms. Still not out of this mess yet, but hopefully will get it sorted next week, while also making progress with finding work.

On the upside I now have a German bank account, online banking and an EC card . though no money in it till I get some money transferred from my irish account :\
Also on top of this I'm not really sure if I really will be staying here at the moment... with the possible job opportunity in England and I am not really sure if there are many opportunities here. I guess I'll just have to wait and find out-though I am being slowed down by factors beyond my control (e.g. time it takes to process my teaching course stuff so that I get my cert and reference, also wont get my psychology degree (i.e. the piece of paper)till November.

sigh.

hows u?
Anyone else looking for work?

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/26577922/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/26577922/ Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:35:45 PDT Have a few copies of Division to leave in the bring and buy- hopefully will get to meet lots of really cool people and see lots of really cool stuff.
After the con its off back to Berlin- to find work :/ - hopefully teaching. Will be working on my new film too though
BTW my phone is not receiving text messages!! aghh!! its annoying

Hows you?
g2g
outta money!! agh

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25747507/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25747507/ Sun, 05 Jul 2009 05:21:22 PDT Things are a little better now, got some of my work done, though still much to do.
In fact I managed to spend some time fixing up a new tutorial for DA too, which should be in my gallery now. Its the second part of Howto make a short animation/anime - this part covers finding actors, recording and animating (aka the production stage). Let me know if you like it and if it is worth my time making the third part and posting it online.
SO I arrive in Germany tomorrow, still have to translate division, the cover etc. Going to work on that now. Selling the film next Sunday in the dark summer market at Dunckerstrasse, Berlin (presuming its done). Going with my lil sister and staying with my Dad, who lives there.
While I am there I will post around some CVs see if I can get a job teaching English, as there is major pressure on me to get a job ASAP. Not sure yet if I will be coming back in two weeks or not- but I'll let ye know.

Whoohoo, looking forward to Ayakon. Though I havent received tickets in the post yet... have you?

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25670614/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25670614/ Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:28:04 PDT yes, just logged on to DA to say that.
anyway, I realise I haven't posted since the day before I got results. Did well enough in the end. Hopefully should be enough for post grad courses when I come to that.
Some how though... I still have deadlines... and its impossible to hit them all- too much to do, and there just seems to be a hell of a lot of pressure.
GAH!!

basically-
art stuff first:
selling in berlin on the 12th - supposed to have translated the film and subtitled it in german, translated the cover, improved the extras, designed t-shirts etc etc
I have some new extras, but thats about it, nothing is in german as of yet. Im still revising infact.

Work stuff second:
had to get rid of my apartment and move back into my mums house for the mo- where I must mind my sis. I have to get work now, and to do that teaching seems to be the thing I must do. So I have started a 100 hour teaching english in a foreign language course- and maybe I am putting too much time and effort in, and going overkill- but its taking forever. Need to have this done ASAP as I must look for work in Germany while I am there- so I need to be able to say I have my TEFL cert. I am also going over Japanese and German to help with this job search.

Academic
myself and my supervisor have been talking about publishing my final year project in a psychiatric/medical/psychological journal- I was supposed to have done some new stats stuff and submitted a new draft for publication last monday... I have not.
on the 12th I lose a whole lot of access privileges for stats software and scientific journals.

Whats more I just feel like everyone thinks I am doing nothing, or they dismiss the things I am doing, tell me to do more stuff (learn to drive, graphic design for them etc). I think this is just the way people act because they want to make sure I get work, but the stuff I am doing is mostly related to getting work, they unlock the opportunities that I otherwise won't have... a psychology degree on its own is not enough.

I feel I'm just being pulled in too many directions, and that these deadlines are frustrating because they are all at the same time rather than consecutive.
Also with regards film... I made another short film, but I will not be making it available online - given I don't have all the copyright.
The 30 minute thing preproduction was progressing nicely, but its on hold for obvious reasons. No time. My heart and brain would probably explode if I tried to multitask anymore.

btw
slime forest adventure is awesome. its an RPG that teaches you Japanese. You can find it on LRNJ.com ... it should help you recognise kanji easy, also hiragana and katakana. I bought the member version and ended playing this every once in a while too. a productive kind of break... not that I have always been working either... other things get in the way.

hope you are all well. Hope to post more soon- Had made a part 2 to that last video tutorial, so will try export that to DA film format and upload it at some stage.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25250968/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25250968/ Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:14:00 PDT Finished college!!! (woot)
Get my results tomorrow (fear).

Best wishes to those still doing exams- especially the leaving cert :b

will be able to spend much more time online soon though
will try look into getting the internet, paint chat applications, proper social networking profiles. Saying hello to peeps. Let me know what you think is good to use. Things will be much easier once I get a job.

Just uploaded a short tutorial on animation preproduction- making it to replace he previous tutorial on the division dvd (a video of me ranting while barely clothed covered tatoos painted on with black lipstick). Take a look at the new video tutorial if your interested - its very basic but hopefully it will be helpful to someone - I recon you can make your own rules for the details anyway - how you write a script, make a storyboard, animatic etc is very much so up to you if its your own project- a novel way of approaching it may even be best for your own project (that doesn't mean to say that I havent been boring and followed the rules in my attempts :b). The tutorial is mostly on the structure of the process for absolute beginners I guess... though I also know that many filmmakers seem like beginners when it comes to preproduction- given they may avoid storyboarding and creating animatics - despite the fact that a good storyboard/animatic can make production so much more informed, efficient and potentially so much more original too.

Aside from that I started developing the script and visual ideas for what will hopefully be a 30 animated minute short. Im doing it in such a way that it should be interesting, and yet very much so possible to make with, potentially, very little help - apart from from musicians, and only possibly actors. I'll say no more- but it could be pretty good - its looking VERY experimental - but with a coherant [though complicated] story.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25250958/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25250958/ Thu, 11 Jun 2009 09:13:31 PDT Finished college!!! (woot)
Get my results tomorrow (fear).

Best wishes to those still doing exams- especially the leaving cert :b

will be able to spend much more time online soon though
will try look into getting the internet, paint chat applications, proper social networking profiles. Saying hello to peeps. Let me know what you think is good to use. Things will be much easier once I get a job.

Just uploaded a short tutorial on animation preproduction- making it to replace he previous tutorial on the division dvd (a video of me ranting while barely clothed covered tatoos painted on with black lipstick). Take a look at the new video tutorial if your interested - its very basic but hopefully it will be helpful to someone - I recon you can make your own rules for the details anyway - how you write a script, make a storyboard, animatic etc is very much so up to you if its your own project- a novel way of approaching it may even be best for your own project (that doesn't mean to say that I havent been boring and followed the rules in my attempts :b). The tutorial is mostly on the structure of the process for absolute beginners I guess... though I also know that many filmmakers seem like beginners when it comes to preproduction- given they may avoid storyboarding and creating animatics - despite the fact that a good storyboard/animatic can make production so much more informed, efficient and potentially so much more original too.

Aside from that I started developing the script and visual ideas for what will hopefully be a 30 animated minute short. Im doing it in such a way that it should be interesting, and yet very much so possible to make with, potentially, very little help - apart from from musicians, and only possibly actors. I'll say no more- but it could be pretty good - its looking VERY experimental - but with a coherant [though complicated] story.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25008758/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/25008758/ Fri, 29 May 2009 03:16:26 PDT
Yuppers in 1 week I will be finished college!!

1 week exactly from 15 minutes ago I will have finished my last exam.

So will be back online and back making art- met some really cool people in the last year too that I would love to work on art projects with- would like to do a feature length animation/film - and have some rough ideas (ideas that are actually doable) but need to develop them. Also If anyone here is interested in working on a project with me- please do let me know .

Anyways- going to ayacon in august- apparently its the largest anime con in england - sounded fun- booked awhile ago- and now I guess I have to book accommodation. Had been hoping to sell there or do an event or something but that didnt work out :/
accommodation is expensive I have been reluctant to pay- especially now there seems less chance to get my film out there or get money back ... but it will be fun all the same
anyone else interested in going?

Other than that not much news- study study study
will be in Berlin with my lil sis seeing my dad- selling a new version of my film + DVD (with loads more extras- slightly extended- possibly with some redone animation, and of course, german subtitles)
but whether anything much will sell will be debatable- probably wont cover the amount of time I have to put into translating it etc- [just selling them at a small gothic flea market there] but ill do it anyway, cause I am crazy and I wont be able to slow down after college anyway. :/

hoping to make some new fragmented art relating to division for t-shirts
Also hoping to make some clothes with a friend- will be fun- though new. Well see how that works out.

I dont know when the leaving cert and other peoples exams are- but I hope they are going well for everyone
all the best
b

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23997061/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23997061/ Wed, 01 Apr 2009 01:52:32 PDT .
Anyone else experiencing difficulty getting jobs they applied for?

So no idea what I am doing for money next year, but on the bright side it means that I will be able to follow through with the films that I want to make here . So division part 2, as well as two bizarre documentaries should be on the way . Also was talking to a friend of mine about working no some clothes together- gonna try make some very fancy very cool merchandice/clothes for division- should be fun. Also would like to go to as many anime conventions as possible next year- all over the world- hopefully sell at as many as possible and just meet people and have fun that I have had to postpone for the last... eight years .

On another note Division is now 8 seconds longer (huh!)!!
and I have also touched up a few shots- the result being the story telling is much improved (plus new shot looks kinda cool).
I have not put this on the internet yet- will probably wait till after college and touch it up more before putting new version/changes online.

Never been to the trinity ball before, my last year here so decided (last night 2am) to apply this year- so far as I know the website started up this morning 9am, but its not happening right now.
So if I am sounding tired this is why.
oh just got tickets (kinda- still though have to pay)- yay (do I have money? will have to go home and see).
Sleepy.

Good luck with exams etc everyone who has them!!!

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23794070/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23794070/ Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:53:20 PDT
Here is a forwarded email, as some of you may be interested in taking part in this project:

Hey Ben,

Thanks a mil for this, here's an email you can foward to friends explaining the project,

Emily



Hey

My name's Emily Turner and I'm a final year Graphic Design student at IADT Dun Laoghaire.
For my final year project, I am creating a book aimed at young people aged 13 to
roughly 25 (i.e. school and college age group) about subculture style, identity and
stereotypes in young people. So basically I'm looking at the labels that people
put on different groups of young people such as Punk, Goth, Indie, Skater, Emo,
Rocker etc. The aim of this project is to encourage people to change their perceptions of
these groups, to educate them as to the origins of these groups (such as
the Punks originating from the 1960s, Skaters originating from the surfers in California)
and overall to promote uniqueness, positivity and individuality in our society.

So, what I need are different kinds of people from these varying subcultures and other
individuals to comment on this subject. So it'd involve a short interview (roughly 20mins),
and a few photos on your style or lifestyle. If you're interested it'd be great and if you've
any other friends who'd like to get involved that'd be good too, I could just do a group interview
with you altogether or something.

If you are too busy to partake but are still interested, I could simply email you a few questions
that you could reply to. The content generated from these interviews will compliment the other
text based material and visuals that I have gathered for tis project.

Thanks a mil,

Emily
----------------------------------

you can contact the artist at elmoemily@gmail.com
or through me if that doesnt work.

I think this would be a great opportunity for anyone, particularly those from eirtakon.
hope it works out for you

on news from me, I am working on college stuff and some film projects- early-sh stages of preproduction.
Also have an idea for a new intro to division that I might make soon- a friend had a bit of a crisis recently so I was helping out with that - and I have a lot of work to do with regards essays for college :/
but I hope to take part in that interview thing I have much to say

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23605811/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23605811/ Mon, 09 Mar 2009 08:53:18 PDT It was really appreciated.
I have now completed my study and submitted my dissertation
got some interesting results too . Might post the poster here soon .

Also it was my birthday saturday wasnt planning to do much but bumped into Elle & Ryan from eirtakon an michelle- Elle's school friend and turned out to be a fun day, *hugs*.

Think I shall go to some life drawing classes this week, its been forever . Anyone interested in coming along? might go tuesday and thursday, or either of, dunno yet. 191 pearse st. 7-9 pm. Coming? are ye? are ye?

:s im all weird right now, just had to write an angry email regarding some college stuff. :/.
Hows You?

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23014360/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/23014360/ Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:02:11 PST .
I would explain it, but I'm not sure I can right now.

You can find it here:
[link]

Single again hoping to stay that way :/, attacking college work is best for now- keep stress down, quite a bit of work to do, + cant wait till its over... Leigh is really cool though, and has lots of anime and computer game related badges and stuff in her gallery .
Also interview for the JET programme next week Japan exchange and teaching.

Still looking for survey participants, and I really appreciate each complete survey I get so if you can do it or get some else to do it that would be awesome, takes from 5-7mins.
[link]

How are things?
sorry if I have been quiet. Enjoying the snow?

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/22754232/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/22754232/ Fri, 23 Jan 2009 07:30:08 PST ,
Hope your all well

It's been sooooo long since I posted a journal here on DA but that doesnt mean I havent been doing stuff.
I have been waiting for Leigh to upload her stuff, and now that thats done I urge you to check it out and add her
she makes game and anime related badges, phone charms etc. Some of you may remember her from the anime convention "eirtakon". She has only just started to put her stuff up online so please take a look and say hello. She was beside me at the art table thing. Myself and Leigh kept in contact, met up a few times and now in a relationship .

New films on the way- two humorous japanese TV ads (picture snails as a sex toy to be placed on private parts- now picture a japanese ads for this-there you go!!)- and a pretentious film thing made from some really pretty stock film footage I have been recording (bought a second hand DCR video camera- its pretty high res compared to my camera/video camera and really good at recording at night)... the film is based on a script/poem I am writing on making a journey/life... its kinda beat- footage is stuff like two japanese girls sitting on a train looking out the window, my journey home at night, other stuff. Also been working on the story board of the sequel to my animated short Division- the script long since done... this project will take longer to finish as it will take a long time to record the voice acting and even longer to animate. Anyone any thoughts on any of these film projects throw them out there.

Also I am working on my dissertation at the moment and I NEED YOUR HELP!!! PLLEEEEAAASEEEeeeee! cries* do my survey, for the love of god do my survey! [link]
[coughs]Thanks.
It should only take 5-7mins.
Anyone any thoughts on that throw them out there too.

How are you?
Hugs*

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/21298243/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/21298243/ Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:54:07 PST
Looking forward to eirtakon BUT did you know that there is a japanese film festival on the same weekend in dublin???!!!
the cultural division from the japanese embassy just sent me an email- detailed below- about a japanese film festival on the 16th and 17th- WTF- why???
Why the same weekend?
it was free too

anyway...
my screening in the sugar club went both well and not so well.
the film was received well, the speeches and rest of the show went smoothly- but although 44 people had paid in, that wasnt enough to cover sugarclubs costs- so I had to pay out 130 euro- this was after having to pay 1000 euro registration fees for my final year of college, 150 for a new dictaphone etc etc.
And since then- (oct 15th) I have been utterly broke.
UTTERLY.

(almost)

well- I may have some money soon- hopefully- and I have a savings account I might close down and start living off.

In other news I am going to apply for the JET (japanese exchange and teaching) programme- so next year- I could be working as an assistant teacher in japan- and maybe also developing more animated films in my spare time. I might also be recording a life drawing class in the near future and trying to make something out of that and throwing it online for your personal enjoyment (huh! nude pplz).
(i sound very immature today :/)

If anyone is interested I Should also be selling my anime inspired short film at eirtakon at the artists alley...
or there with copies to sell- maybe for 5 euro... though whether anyone buys them or not is another story.
I have been making price tags for them with original drawings on each and labelling it as 5 euro...(in an effort to stop people taking them without paying e.g. a last week at a party a graphic designer guy who wanted to use it for something took one while I was asleep after being told not to take them away- he also had a fight with his girl friend who brought him there so I will most likely never see him again).

In the last week I think I have sold two... and given three away for free to girls with strange powers over me (though I got one back- she just wanted to see it- and I might get another back at life drawing tomorrow)
I cant keep losing money to this film though- when you barely have enough money to buy food- you really cant afford to be giving stuff away for free.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing you at eirtakon- say hey if your gonna be there!

here is part of the email regarding the film festival that the japanese embassy sent me:

JAPANESE FILM FESTIVAL 2008, 15 - 27 NOVEMBER IN DUBLIN, CORK & LIMERICK



We are delighted to inform you of the upcoming Japanese Film Festival 2008, co-organised by the Embassy of Japan, access>CINEMA, and the Ireland Japan Association (IJA).



Screenings

· Saturday 15 & Sunday 16 November: CineWorld Dublin

· Saturday 22 & Sunday 23 November: KINO Arthouse Cinema Cork

· Wednesday 26 & Thursday 27 November: Storm Cinemas Castletroy, Limerick

Programme

· The Girl Who Leapt Through Time |Toki o kakeru shôjo (anime)

· GO

· Hotel Hibiscus

· Mind Game (anime)

Notes

· Free admission but tickets required. Tickets will be available from a Japanese Film Festival 2008 stand at the venue 3 hours before each screening.

· All films are unclassified, therefore subject to club conditions, i.e. open to 18 years+ only.

· All films featured are in Japanese with English subtitles.



Detailed information on the Japanese Film Festival 2008 is available on the access>CINEMA website:

[link]



We hope that you will enjoy the Japanese Film Festival 2008 and look forward to it becoming a regular item on the annual calendar of events.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20684694/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20684694/ Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:00:36 PDT very happy!
will work on getting a copy of Division up here asap.
Also, it seems like I have a screening in the sugar club leeson's street dublin city centre on october the 15th 7pm- there will be loads of other films shown there too and live music so it would be great to see you there.
also, if anyone is interested in getting a copy of the Division DVD let me know- it has loads of extras including a version with an alternative soundtrack, a half hour video tutorial on how to make a short animated film, behind the scenes, director commentary and cut scenes.

Thanks Brittany- looks like your the first one.

more stuffs soon :b

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20646715/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20646715/ Wed, 24 Sep 2008 05:24:13 PDT DVD's are ready- so just let me know if you want one- the DVDs have the feature in much higher resolution and also include:

30 minute tutorial on how to make a short animated film by me
behind the scenes
cut scenes
version of the film with an alternative soundtrack
commentary by me with panister fatheroy rocking away on my guitar in the room.
Original DVD menus
subtitles for the feature
Labelled DVD in dvd case with full colour cover- its fairly respectable

you can find the film on youtube here:
[link]
and you can find pics of the cover etc on my website here:
[link]

Every aspect of this film has taken alot of time, effort and dedication- I would appreciate it if you passed the link on to anyone that you thought might be interested in it.
Also- pay attention to grafitti the backgrounds... I'll say no more.

I've also sent the film for review by DA Film- hopefully it will be here too soon.

Hope your all well,
Ben

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20532334/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20532334/ Wed, 17 Sep 2008 05:20:49 PDT :/ growing up - probably until 5th year I had what I now see was a serious addiction to computer games, and in particular RPGs- I was playing them non stop and when not playing them- I felt a great need to play them. So I gave them up- and television- completely- until last summer when my sister gave me a PS2 and final fantasy 12... I played for about 2 or 3 days with almost no sleep- before I ended up breaking the PS2 and the game by accident (I hadnt left the house to buy an extension lead I really needed...- had been siting on the floor playing with cables stretched out in every diirection-ps2 on a chair so it could reach its plug and the TV)\

Now this week I am in my mother's house minding my sister while mum is away on holiday- I bought FF12 again to keep myself entertained- knowing I would get addicted- but I couldnt stop myself...
I am now finding it incredibly difficult to do anything else but play-
when I have quite a few (difficult) things that I should be doing ( organising a screening of my film at sugar club- fixing some display problems with the credits, designing a new CD label (don't want to risk giving away the spray painted versions- despite how cool they look- incase someone blames a problem they experience with their DVD player on my DVDs), developing my final year project for psychology, finishing a report from last year, other stuff that I can't think off. So playing the computer game is also made a whole lot easier by the fact that I am avoiding all those difficult things.

but It kinda also goes back to the fact that being here there are times when I like to think that playing the game is the best way to spend time (i.e. when my sister is doing her homework and I have to be there in case she wants help at any time... but I always take it too far and cant stop...)

Perhaps I need to just give it up fully but I just don't want to accept it and keep giving in when it gets difficult to stay away from it. Might try putting the game away somewhere else- its probably harder not to think about it if I am in the same room as it and its so easy to start up. eps...

How do you manage with computer games?
Anyone relate to an addiction of this extent with computer games anything else? What did you do?

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20329205/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20329205/ Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:53:34 PDT
im like wow...

its really rocking stuff too.

so there will be 3 soundtracks to the main feature on the DVD
1. this new version- the voices to this continuous original soundtrack. 2. commentary by me (and Panister Fatheroy playing in the background- perhaps ill re-listen to it- its cool but it at the same time they distract from another I think... -he was more comfortable playing than talking in the end... so thats the way it happened)
3. the original version with the intro and outro that were originally built around the timing of noise machine songs (rather than a continuous song built around it).

as well as the 30 minute tutorial on how to make an animated short film, another lengthy behind the scenes, and I have yet to make the cut scenes thing- but thats tomorrow's work.

I also bough spray paint and made a stencil- I'm spraying a stuff on the Actual dvds this weekend hopefully.
just a few more things to do like the DVD cover- not sure how long that will take though.

hope all is well
b

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20198900/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/20198900/ Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:34:53 PDT
and scene 1 in particular is
really
really
awesome

Im very happy with the result
however
I still need to sort out some things in scene 2 and scene 4- tweak some animation, sort out the music for the kiss sequence
make the dvd cover and menu

Its been about a year in production now, I've spent basically all my working hours of this summer holiday working on animating and editing it- living out of my bank account and the few measly quid I earn from odd jobs.

None the less, it may be ready soon enough, and I suspect you will like it.

I think I will probably be submitting it to DA film- and pleading with people to buy a copy of the dvd for the extra features and better quality so I can make back some of what this addiction has cost.
Though I need to find out about the terms and conditions.

hope all is well!
b

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19973767/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19973767/ Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:19:00 PDT it does however contain a WHOLE load of animations you have not seen including the kiss sequence- tamed down for now- as it been more adult in the storyboard- but it was long enough- i didnt necessarily want Jill to be too slutty if she was unsure of things, and i think i might have had to remove them for certain screenings anyway...
here it is though
[link]
let me know what you think

and im finding it hard to move onto the next step and get to work on scene 1 or scene 4 due to the fact that both have somethings that require thought before moving straight to animating-
I want to be sure of the shots, the colours, the tone- I'm even considering going back over the sound files and changing the first line of the 4th scene.
also I want to make doubly sure that noone in noise machine will have a problem with the song being used, although I have cleared it with John Linnane who seems to like it.
More on scene 1 and 4 soon.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19947432/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19947432/ Thu, 14 Aug 2008 06:41:36 PDT
Working on my animation at the moment- when I can. Flash is giving me some problems at the moment- progress is being made- trying to get it finished as soon as possible so I can work on the cover, dvd menu, t-shirts and the storyboard for the sequel before next college term and Eirtakon.

ahh, its tough- and its so easy to see how you could spend forever on a project like this- without references in some of the more difficult parts- its very hard to get something done quickly that reflects what I feel I am able to do (right now I am working on the most difficult animation- the kiss sequence- ha- It's long and complex- i didnt record actors doing it, and I didnt think to act it out myself... which would be odd... painting it now). As someone learning to animate for the first time while doing all this- it perfection really is a sacrifice you have to allow- get this done- and then when I have landed on my feet on this the next step, then next time I will bring it to the next level- though hopefully this will still be pretty rocking- in terms of the direction, characters, the pretty heavy parts, and blatant symbolism throughout. Editted together all of the beats from scene 2- and it worked for the most part- a few small things to fix- otherwise its okay-

Hopefully when It's done it will get a bit more attention- people can get some awesome dvds with loads of extras- even copy em give em to friends etc (though they will be cheap and hopefully ill find a way to print/make cheap yet awesome packaging.

Just talked to a long time friend in america last night- We both used to be pretty big into writing poetry and may have similarly disturbed emotional condition... The experience of life right now is so different than it was then - it's hard to imagine that I am even the same person- and how back then I didnt realise the worth of some of the ideas I had- and only now I'm looking back to that dark place, and developing and reusing them, because although I cant get to that place again, I understand it and how to write it properly and bring some sort of resolution and closure to it (sometimes). We made it through it, so did many others... when your there though- it didnt seem like it would ever end.


okay- I went on a tangent there.

what do you guys think of stuff related to my film- what kinda stuff would you want to buy?

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476777/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476777/ Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:29:32 PDT

* 1. Post these rules.
* 2. Each tagged person must post 8 things about themselves on their journal.
* 3. At the end, you have to choose and tag 8 people and post their icons on the same journal.
* 4. Go to their pages and send a message saying you tagged them.
* 5. No tag-backs.

i dont want to annoy people- and i wouldnt mind breaking some rules as far as the third rule is concerned... or maybe you guys can break the rules...

anywayz 8 things

1. I'm just back from berlin yesterday
2. My dad lives in berlin as does my half brother so we stayed with 'em - though the kid stays with his mum for the most part- even though he was fine this was good as it gave me more much needed space.
3. I'm working on an animated film at the moment- painting the backgrounds and might start animating when I the videos of the actors during the making off.
4. I'm running out of things to say about myself... eh i have damn long hair.
5. I study psychology in trinity
6. Going into my final year in october .
7. I'm supposed to be mind my lil sister here in louth all next week - but im aware that there may be something on next week- so if you let me know in advance
8. I have a book waiting for me in waterstontes awesomeness- something good to come back to.

...
9. I discovered ergo proxy last week- bought it and a few german documentaries on anime manga and otaku culture... awesomeness. Love the style in ergo proxy- the music too is partcularly awesome- opening for ergo proxy is here on youtube [link]
wow...
sexy, serious, stylish and cool.
otherwise listening to the documentaries in japanese with german subtitles.
hardcore.

so now i have returned from berlin with a million references photos and recordings of run down buildings, graveyards, arthouses, and animals- all of them covered in graffiti - truely awesome. Maybe ill post some of em someday after I sort through them more.

hope your all well- sorry if i didnt include you in the tagged list- but i wasnt sure who would really hate this or who might actually remember who I am... ha.
l8rz
b

10. ... this is the THIRD time i had to post this because of a weird empty entry that kept appearing with internet explorer, also i forgot to mention that I havent been able to use my phone for the last two weeks and it will still be awhile (maybe a day or two) till i get it on again.

tagged:


]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476760/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476760/ Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:25:38 PDT
]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476758/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476758/ Sat, 19 Jul 2008 04:25:31 PDT

* 1. Post these rules.
* 2. Each tagged person must post 8 things about themselves on their journal.
* 3. At the end, you have to choose and tag 8 people and post their icons on the same journal.
* 4. Go to their pages and send a message saying you tagged them.
* 5. No tag-backs.

i dont want to annoy people- and i wouldnt mind breaking some rules as far as the third rule is concerned... or maybe you guys can break the rules...

anywayz 8 things

1. I'm just back from berlin yesterday
2. My dad lives in berlin as does my half brother so we stayed with 'em - though the kid stays with his mum for the most part- even though he was fine this was good as it gave me more much needed space.
3. I'm working on an animated film at the moment- painting the backgrounds and might start animating when I the videos of the actors during the making off.
4. I'm running out of things to say about myself... eh i have damn long hair.
5. I study psychology in trinity
6. Going into my final year in october .
7. I'm supposed to be mind my lil sister here in louth all next week - but im aware that there may be something on next week- so if you let me know in advance
8. I have a book waiting for me in waterstontes awesomeness- something good to come back to.

...
9. I discovered ergo proxy last week- bought it and a few german documentaries on anime manga and otaku culture... awesomeness. Love the style in ergo proxy- the music too is partcularly awesome- opening for ergo proxy is here on youtube [link]
wow...
sexy, serious, stylish and cool.
otherwise listening to the documentaries in japanese with german subtitles.
hardcore.

so now i have returned from berlin with a million references photos and recordings of run down buildings, graveyards, arthouses, and animals- all of them covered in graffiti - truely awesome. Maybe ill post some of em someday after I sort through them more.

hope your all well- sorry if i didnt include you in the tagged list- but i wasnt sure who would really hate this or who might actually remember who I am... ha.
l8rz
b

10. ... this is the second time i had to post this because of a weird empty entry that appeared since, also i forgot to mention that I havent been able to use my phone for the last two weeks and it will still be awhile (maybe a day or two) till i get it on again.

tagged:


]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476519/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476519/ Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:51:59 PDT
]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476518/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19476518/ Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:51:50 PDT

* 1. Post these rules.
* 2. Each tagged person must post 8 things about themselves on their journal.
* 3. At the end, you have to choose and tag 8 people and post their icons on the same journal.
* 4. Go to their pages and send a message saying you tagged them.
* 5. No tag-backs.

i dont want to annoy people- and i wouldnt mind breaking some rules as far as the third rule is concerned... or maybe you guys can break the rules...

anywayz 8 things

1. I'm just back from berlin yesterday
2. My dad lives in berlin as does my half brother so we stayed with 'em - though the kid stays with his mum for the most part- even though he was fine this was good as it gave me more much needed space.
3. I'm working on an animated film at the moment- painting the backgrounds and might start animating when I the videos of the actors during the making off.
4. I'm running out of things to say about myself... eh i have damn long hair.
5. I study psychology in trinity
6. Going into my final year in october .
7. I'm supposed to be mind my lil sister here in louth all next week - but im aware that there may be something on next week- so if you let me know in advance
8. I have a book waiting for me in waterstontes awesomeness- something good to come back to.

...
9. I discovered ergo proxy last week- bought it and a few german documentaries on anime manga and otaku culture... awesomeness. Love the style in ergo proxy- the music too is partcularly awesome- opening for ergo proxy is here on youtube [link]
wow...
sexy, serious, stylish and cool.
otherwise listening to the documentaries in japanese with german subtitles.
hardcore.

so now i have returned from berlin with a million references photos and recordings of run down buildings, graveyards, arthouses, and animals- all of them covered in graffiti - truely awesome. Maybe ill post some of em someday after I sort through them more.

hope your all well- sorry if i didnt include you in the tagged list- but i wasnt sure who would really hate this or who might actually remember who I am... ha.
l8rz
b

tagged:



]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19129005/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/19129005/ Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:56:11 PDT blog blog blog blog blog
its been a long time since I have posted anything new in my gallery, but thats not to say that I am not making art...
Finished "the placebo" and still working on "division" and now you can see some of the animatics for division and full placebo thing on my youtube account [link]
please say hi!

some news,
had been working in graphic design- doing some software and a book- it was something really new for me- designing buttons, icons, menus, images, layouts, colour keys- and fun at times- but eventually I quit- it was taking up all my time and I would have to work while in berlin, I wanted to spend more time on division; myself and the creator of the project started having creative differences, we lost trust and respect for another; and eventually it was just decided that it would be best if he looked for someone new to do the project- it was not a difficult ending- I gave him some solid advice for where to look for someone else and we wished eachother the best with our respective futures.

had alot of fun in howth saturday! woohoo! meeting new people, feeling accepted, drawing and getting free drawings- it was all good

going to berlin on friday to see my dad with my lil sister, will take some new reference photos for division.

I no longer have the internet at home- had to cancel my subscription ages ago after my modem started having location specific authorisation problems... i wont go into the details- but it means I only get to connect from college and only every once in awhile.

maybe say hi?!
b

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/18236043/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/18236043/ Fri, 09 May 2008 01:46:23 PDT I have been working on two films of mine, a 200 page group project report (which, may not be a recognised artform- but it does communicate an important message), and also been studying inbetween (hmmm okay, i cant argue that studying psychology is making art... except to say that art is psychology and psychology is art).

The films are making progress- one of them was relevant to the 200 page group project report and is finished but needs some tweaking and recontextualisation before I can put it on the web- but should be up early-mid june.

The Animated film, Division, is going to take while though. Basically we have recorded most of the audio, the live action scene and also a making of (i guess thats a third film of sorts), and on top of all this we have loads of photos of the live actor wearing the division athletic shirt! (yes- I made it! 3 of them in fact!). Over the summer I will be editing the sound together, animating it and making the soundtrack with the help of a friend... I also have one or two lines still to record though- and I will do those after exams. I hope I will be able to post it on DA film- and it will be worth the effort- many, many, many times bigger and more enjoyable than anything you have seen from me before.

After exams I will also start posting more art- some of my fragmented style pictures that you have never seen, some of my demo portraits from when back when I used to be a portrait artist in berlin, and whatever I can post about this animated film.

Hope your all well and for those of you with exams coming up, best of luck!
B

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/17835248/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/17835248/ Sun, 13 Apr 2008 15:56:38 PDT
I am unhappy.
I just read something really really unsettling, and if you continue to read, you will too.
Freedom of expression is no longer defended, the organisation of the Islamic Conference along with China have killed it. The UN is the place responsible for seeing to it that the universal declaration of human rights is upheld. Up until march 30th we had a human right to freedom of expression, it is now no longer true that we have that right. Due to the power of the islamic countries, china and other countries against the full entitlement of this right, they have passed an ammendment to this right, now the UN polices expression and 'must report on instances in which the "abuse" of the right of freedom of expression constitutes an act of racial or religious discrimination'. This is a lot worse than it sounds, and yes, you should be frightened.

Please read this article [link]

Basically, the human rights are dying- and the first right to die has been the right to freedom of expression. I've also been reading a lot about the policing of the internet in China recently, and the consequences of wanting freedom there and I can tell you- that its a pretty fucking scary world which we may be plunging into.

Not one country opposed the change- 15 abstained- if you go to the OIC webpage you'll find out why- there is a hell of alot of islamic countries out there- and other countries like the US just want to trade with them.

What will be the consequences according to the islamic shari'ah? Are we not all aware of the terrible things that religion has led to in the past, the countless murders that occurred because you were a heretic- what is it like in these countries already when you try to use your right for freedom of expression- the freedom to stand tall and say that a religion is causing oppression.

To address my last post while im here- I went to the debate "do anti depressants work", got in a good question, and the next morning I had an interview with Professor Irving Kirsch- the guy who wrote the study that has been plastered all over the news about anti-depressants being as effective as placebos.
I've started recording my animation- got in contact with the japanese society and a japanese guy contacted me interested in doing some of the voice acting and acting, still need about 5 more people though so on tuesday I'm going to their last meeting of the year- ill mingle and look for a leading female role- and look for some voice actors- also hoping filmmakers will send out an email for me.
Animated my first speech things these last few days too- worked out ok- it works but its not the most impactful/dramatic looking image yet, so I'll have to mess around with it a bit.

Meh, essay due tomorrow, and pretty f**cking sh1t about the freedom of expression thing. That has just ruined my life never mind my day. What terrible things will happen next? There is talk of a lot of nations pulling out of the UN- but best case scenario what will happen- judeo-christian nations leave and form something new- clear division between judeo-christian religions versus muslim versus non humane astheism (china).

I don't like any of those belief systems.

World war 3 anyone?

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/17592345/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/17592345/ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 15:26:41 PDT YEAH!!
ET Cetera!

I finished the script today, version 8.1- its gone through a hell of a lot of revisions, and today I fixed one of my last reservations with it- which is good because after the last few weeks of annoying people- I finally have arranged to use the recording stuff I need in college.
So tomorrow 3pm I start recording the audio for the character that I am doing, after that I will send out an email to the japanese society with the script attached looking for voice actors for the animated scenes and actors for the live action scene.
And after I start to hear back from people and when suits them- I will send out an email for a camera man to record the "making of" and reference material for the animating.

other news- lots of big stuff going on- I just finished a poster for a comedy gig in college in association with student 2 student (the support group im involved in), have to make a presentation for my group project, hopefully interviewing the guy who wrote the study that said antidepressants are no more effective than placebo for mild+moderate depression thursday (harnessing the placebo effect is my research area), co-facilitating a traning course on listening skills, and going to go insane because I have a lot to do and also a lot of study to do for my exams .

I will be busy anyway.

irish artists:




other people worth mentioning


]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/17179093/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/17179093/ Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:07:50 PST Goldfish has been delayed due to a problem in the printing process
and I now own the adobe creative suite 3 master collection- legally. I bought it (with a huge student discount) in a moment of what must only have been insanity- but im glad I did- hope to work on some films soon and will be making posters and the character designs for the animated film- My comic that goldfish is publishing is now in my gallery. The article will not be online till it is printed.

if anyone is interested in helping me with the animated film, read this paragraph- if not skip it- i am so insane I am also probably going to buy toon boom digital (with a huge student discount too- im looking for voice actors, (perhaps) a co-author and maybe someone to help animating (digitally- frame by frame via toon boom animation not a puppet animation- i also have flash- but I havent got to try it yet- i fear however it will not be adequate for the standard i want+efficiency I want).

I also have a crush on someone I will hardly ever see again- but I have some photos of us so i might try and make a pic or two in my fragmented style- If I do see her again I probably wouldnt be able to show it to her (and she would prob. be freaked out anyway...)... im hoping she might be at something I am going to on thursday though- if I see her there I will have to try ask out on a date... if she isnt there- I dont know when it would be possible to see her again- chances of bumping into her are very very slim up until the beginning of next year...


dammit... I am always stuck in this situation.
First time I spoke to her was yesterday- she sat down beside me at the trinity psychology ball and started talking to me- she doesnt study psychology but apparently she was in my japanese class... these classes are now over, but thursday is a japanese anime screening in college by the japanese society... so I cant be sure she will be there. I don't meet people I like this much very often at all at all.
anyone any tips?

Irish artists:


other people


]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/16669965/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/16669965/ Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:51:27 PST

thanks!

to keep you all updated, i have a comic in the making for a comedy magazine to be published soon and I have put up the progress of that so far in my gallery, I have an aritcle in the works for that same magazine and on a more serious note, I uploaded one article on the adoption crisis in guatemala on my website (more on that later- 3 more serious articles complete but not uploaded).

Also, if anyone is interested I hope to make an animation combined with live action this year. Im currently working on finding the right writer to work on it with me, so if your living in ireland, and interested, let me know. Later on this year I will be doing auditions for voice actors and also looking for someone/some people to do some background music and if they can, help with sound effects (the sound is what I consider to be the most important part).

if you guys have any interest in any of that stuff let me know.

Before 2,000 views you can expect to see this animation, more of my old style art, my old portraits, new portraits and the rest of the next scene of division.
Though alot of things will probably only be possible to host on my website like my articles and the comic with text in its proper format.

g2g, im late for a meeting, but hope all is well!
b

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/16249644/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/16249644/ Fri, 04 Jan 2008 03:06:38 PST It's so christmassy!
People came snowboarding at field beside my house! Snowboarding in ireland! unbelievable!

Now with my tablet finally here I can get back to my comic, illustrations and the gift art I was supposed to do. Will be heading up to dublin shortly and will start them there.

On more serious matters however, I would like to draw your attention to the Human development reports site, where you can get access to the United nations development program Human development reports. The 2007/2008 report was on climate change, some of the things they say are absolutely terrifying but highlight the urgency of the matter. The 2008 report can be found here [link]

The report that I was citing was the 2005 report, and can be found here: [link]
I am using the data on levels of education in guatemala. Previously for each adoption that took place in Guatemala adoptive parents paid the countries prior expenses of having to care for the children, leading vulnerable to be accused of having a BABY BLACK MARKET. As of the 31st of december 2007 international adoptions from guatemala will essentially come to a stand still, as Guatemala are required to pass litigation that will enable them to conform to the Hague treaty. With the Hague treaty in place however it will become impossible for them to finacially afford to allow these children to be adopted and lead to even worse conditions. I believe that the hague treaty is of no use, the country needs the adoptions and the money it previous could get from them before the Hague. I believe education must be funded to in order to prevent the country from becoming finacially independent and removed from the vicious circle of needing to SELL THEIR CHILDREN.
This along with 3 other essays that im finding REALLY interesting are on the way, these will be found on my website in two formats: one for people without the scientific background knowledge and one for easy access to inform normal people (like you would find in a newspaper except more interesting).

Art gift on the way:


some Irish artists:
:IconAlltheteainChina:


some friends:


]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15974622/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15974622/ Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:44:22 PST
The Easter Bunny Santa Claus conspiracy revealed

Adults of the Christian religion may be taught that their belief in the trinity, their behaviour and their spreading of the faith will be rewarded with eternal life after death. For children these kinds of concepts may be too heavy, it may be too difficult believing such extraordinary things, and the wait for the next life for reward may be too distant. Instead of eternal life then, the children are promised chocolate eggs and toys, instead of believing in the trinity they are taught to believe in benevolent bunnies, flying reindeer and the ever watchful Santa Claus.


The rewarding of chocolate eggs and toys takes place on easter Sunday and Christmas day respectively. On these days the church celebrates the birth and death of Jesus Christ (one of their deity). They celebrate these with social ceremonies. These ceremonies are a chance for the entire Christian community to renew it’s connection with the church, give extra large donations and pray for salvation. These in other words they act as a reminder of what the faith is and that they are part of the faith. The children’s belief and behaviour is being rewarded material things which offer pleasurable sensations. They may have made an association chain like the following:

Christmas day → Jesus born → Santa → promise of presents → happiness

The children should be trained and rewarded for their belief in fantastic non-existent creatures. They may then expect similar pleasurable sensations for all future Christmases.


As children become older these associations and church going behaviours may become established. What’s more children may not only associate Christmas and Easter with happiness, their ability to believe in the fantastic has been tested and trained. It is at this stage that children’s attention may be directed towards the Jesus solely. They are told Santa and the Easter Bunny do not exist. Santa may then be removed from their thought association pattern and it may change to:

Christmas day → Jesus born → _____ → promise of eternal life → happiness

They may still expect happiness although Santa has been removed from the chain. The reward itself has gradually changed from a material thing to a concept. Belief in fantasy creatures has been trained and rewarded until such a stage where the child is ready to pass on to adult hood a person willing to accept the bible without question and turn up to church without any material reward



I might rewrite and illustrate it for another magazine next year. I still believe that it these celebrations are just training in fairy-tale beliefs.

on other news:
Today I spent money on myself!!
wow.

I went to bought a program for debut manga artists cause I want the tones and have decided I hate cleaning lineart that much... and a very very shiney graphics tablet because... I dont spend money... I have the money... and I want the tablet... (BRAINWASHED BEN)
got it from dabs relatively cheap though- (intous3 a5 300 euro, the cheapest I could have bought it from a shop here was 390 and it would have taken longer to be in my possession).
manga studio debut 3- probably a dodgy buy because I have vista- and they warn against using it on vista...
im hoping I can export and import to photoshop and just do the panel layout and toning in manga studio.

damn my flat mate is smoking again- whines* I dont want to get stoned. It is annoying to have something forced upon you against your will... can anyone else relate to this? but I will have to leave it and open a window... it would probably argued that I am the model flat mate either and I don't think I want to waste my life arguing...

yess brittany, your present is coming... incredibly slowly... it takes me an incredible amount of time and I was working on the cover to my comic... but might have to postpone that.

nothing else to say.
spent this week working on the cover that is not ready to be uploaded yet (this version may never be)

I am sleeping normally again (actually, sleeping+staring at walls alot) hurray!
new articles on the way (slowly)
might be involved in a photoshoot of a friend this week- And this article happened to come up in the conversation- thus remembering it enough to post it.
hope you liked it.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15812165/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15812165/ Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:29:54 PST hello.
how are you?
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN COLOURING MY COMIC??? it doesnt need to be permanent...
yes anyway, check it, I have uploaded the lineart of my new comic. [link]
hmm I know stuff has happened... but what???
also uploaded my article printed in miscellany magazine... and noticed a typo in the title while doing so- fuck.
[link]
[link]
[link]

there ya go.

I can't sleep.
this last while having trouble sleeping... again. but this aint mania. but still- waking early (for me... though a psychology student's definition of early is questionable) , taking forever to drift off... having nightmares about the price of entry and the shitty start of legoland berlin.
oh yeah, 700 hundred page views! woot?
thank you.
I guess the next milestone is 1000.

kill me now. (I dont know why, but I felt it important to write that).

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15680360/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15680360/ Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:20:15 PST
Yay!! last week miscellany magazine was distributed, it was pretty cool seeing people around college reading my article or looking at my illustrations

Also, one of my illustrations was featured in a magazine just about a month ago... actually on the day of my last journal entry... but it took some time for someone to tell me that it existed...
[link]
thank you so much!

I have asked the editor of miscellany magazine for the PDFs of the articles associated with my illustrations and for my article- if and when I get them I will let you know...

Also, my first anime/manga con last weekend (i was just a customer). Met some awesome people there- amazingly talented and very helpful.
Thanks to everyone there!

Comic is on the way- slowly- I started illustrating the second scene yesterday- after I draw this scene and two more large panel pages I will start painting/toning/texturing the work and then upload it here and on tokyopop. New character designs too- which I havent yet uploaded here... Taking my time but not going as perfectionistic about it- getting pissed of with uploading rubbish yet, It will be improving in stages however- still imperfect- but a GIANT improvement.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15269690/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15269690/ Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:56:29 PDT
I also put up some scrap from long ago... I had some more mature and obscene stuff drawn well too that I thought would interest people on DA... but I decided I would not share it with you because I do not want to identify myself with that anymore.

STILL thats not to say that some of the stuff up now wont be viewed as obscene and mature... in fact it is obscene and mature... just not to the same degree.

oh yes, and by mature I might mean dirty. A strange euphemism that is sometimes used by our society.

-friends-
I want to put up more people on this list!! After I have my comic up and have proved my place here- I will start socialising more, but for now the list contains:

thanks for being social you two
also, the rest of you. speak to me...

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15142852/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/15142852/ Sat, 20 Oct 2007 11:42:42 PDT . my computer also had to be formated yesterday- everything erased. and then I had to do it again early early this morning. and yet- the only way this affected me was it gave me comfort in knowing I had a good reason to procrastinate. Still I am unhappy because I want to be doing something constructive- but its the problem of actually doing it.

Good news though- My script for my comic is definitely coming along- it has a beginning a middle and an end- its pretty damn long too- I think im gonna try and give it a page count tonight. though i havent done terribly much to it in awhile
ALSO
go to my website!!!
michaelmathewsart.com

friend list:


]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/14979501/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/14979501/ Tue, 09 Oct 2007 01:00:53 PDT My first goal is, 500 page views, that should be easy enough, my second goal will then obviously be to beat my other profile, which i wont link you to now incase you go visit it and make my task harder.

ANYWAY this means I'll be submitting new art- its on the way. Im just trying to keep a good standard so im hesistant to submit crap or erroneous works. When I finally do receive comments I want them to be saying THIS IS BRILLIANT!! YOU ARE GOD!!! HAVE MONEY.

Anyway, thanks to leoslittlebride for the awesome picture of me, can I call this fan art? I'd like to pretend so.
[link]
OMG she has like a page and a half of new art- thats like more than I have since I started.

anyway- let me know introduce the friendlist of the almighty:



may it grow and be filled with amazing artists plotting to take over the world.

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/14159312/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/14159312/ Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:14:31 PDT ANd I have been working on a few projects:

Firstly Im working on a music video with a band called fanny pack on a song called crazy bunny- if you like weird or alternative stuff- you will love this (hopefully)

Secondly Im writing up a proper script for a proper length comic thingy that I hope to work on.

Thirdly I just launched a website [link], and Im signing my works with that address from now on.

Fourthly: Im writing for and illustrating two magazines- the articles will be on my website AFTER publication, the illustrations right after I do them.

Fifthly: i just finished some logo designs for a student counselling service and also a billion euro property management company in germany.

Despite all this I am poor as hell- none of this stuff has been paid for and I havent had work in three weeks... gotta pay the rent soon. [profanities go here].
Please console me by commenting on my work/this journal and making me feel it was a worthy cause. OR you could watch me go utterly insane, record it secretly and then put it up on Youtube...

Gotta love that fear emoticon! AGHH!!! THE EMPATHY!!

]]> ~MichaelMathews http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/12979106/ http://MichaelMathews.deviantart.com/journal/12979106/ Wed, 16 May 2007 15:18:52 PDT
my old page was [link]

check it out if you want, it has some art on it that this one does not have. (and it does not have some of the art that this page has).

On my new page you can find a variety of gothic type comics such as:
A short comic strip on how jhonen Vasquez comes up with his twisted, vicious, and insane comics (oh how i relate)
a comic i made to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the movie the crow (it was the anniversary on the week of the 07th of may.

and my various fragmented style pictures and posters.

Click pitiful fools! CLICK!!
if anyone else is interested, click too, become a pitiful fool!
CLICK!!

]]> ~MichaelMathews