http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:billythebrain&section=today deviantART RSS for by:billythebrain en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:30:19 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/28912898/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/28912898/ Sat, 12 Dec 2009 23:12:10 PST
It's for a combination of reasons really. I'm completely swamped with work (both at my day job and with commissions), I've got family visiting over the holidays (which is great, but it's also a real time devourer), and most importantly, I feel like I'm stagnating again. I need to stop producing things specifically to upload, and start doing things for myself again.

I'm hoping that when I return in the new year I'll have loads of shiny new deviations for you (or more specifically, for me). The interruption in service may not herald a huge transformation, but it will hopefully bring back the fun and get rid of the formula. Fingers crossed.

So until I return, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

-Bill

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/27697348/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/27697348/ Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:27:02 PDT 's Addams Family sketch [link] has reached 200 faves!

It's still easily my most popular colouring. Garnering not only the most faves, but also the most comments. It's also about a year and a half old, which either means it takes that long for my colourings to make an impact or I haven't done anything of note since.

Actually one of my colourings has already recieved over 200 faves. The catch being it hasn't done this in my gallery. My colouring of 's Cyclops image [link] has only recieved 22 faves, but the same image uploaded in 's gallery [link] has recieved 241 faves! My lack of juice doesn't bother me. Hell, as long as people like what I'm doing I'm happy.

So...thanks to everyone for the faves. Keep 'em coming, but don't forget to comment. Your feedback is what I really need to improve.

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/26887808/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/26887808/ Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:14:07 PDT kindly sent me the hires lines for his superb Bebop drawing [link] with the knowledge that I would slap some colourific colours on them.

I started to do just that, but had to postpone my finishing it when I sprained my wrist (and cracked a couple of ribs) doing something stupid. Now that I'm all healed and have some spare time I've tried to pick up where I left off, but lo and behold I have since become artistically blocked and have no idea how to finish it.

This is all I've done so far [link]

Now I put it to you, fellow deviants. I need some ideas on how to finish this. As Pricess Leia once said "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/26701060/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/26701060/ Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:27:26 PDT
I'm artistically blocked. I can't seem to finish anything satisfactorily. Or for that matter, start anything satisfactorily either. I've got so many half finished projects at the moment, but I just feel like I've hit a wall and I'm not sure where I want to take them or even how I originally envisioned them.

I have no idea how to get out of this funk (my usual Pixar watching and DA trawling hasn't helped).

Any ideas on how to beat this damn thing?

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/26331092/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/26331092/ Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:29:38 PDT
LCM's, for the uninitiated, are Kelloggs branded rice crispie squares/treats.
Check 'em out here [link]

They're delish, but I'm going to have to give them up until I know what they're called (who knows what propaganda I'm endorsing).

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/25590036/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/25590036/ Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:42:51 PDT
Now onto 10,000!

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/25446971/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/25446971/ Sun, 21 Jun 2009 04:45:58 PDT
Here's the [link]

And here's the links to the colourings I've done using "pages" from this site (note: I've coloured and practiced on loads more, I just haven't uploaded all of them).

[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/25002534/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/25002534/ Thu, 28 May 2009 17:47:59 PDT 's journal entry [link] I couldn't believe my eyes! I am so chuffed that an artist of his calibre would be so gracious.

Visit his gallery this instant, I say! Not only is he a super talented artist, but he's a bloody nice chap to boot.

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/24661071/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/24661071/ Fri, 08 May 2009 23:50:15 PDT
As usual, a big thankyou to all of the peeps that er, peeped my stuff.

And a big thankyou to all the cats that let me colour their lines.

A special mention has to go to Who's probably responsible for the vast majority of afformentioned pageviews. Actually, my colouring of his Addams Family sketch [link] probably accounts for half of that, seeing as it's easily my most faved image (140 faves and counting).

Here's the rest of my colourings of work
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]
[link]

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/23841531/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/23841531/ Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:17:10 PDT Again, thanks to everyone for checking out my stuff.
And a big thank you to all of the great artists that let me colour their work (without which I'd probably have 2 pageviews).

In no particular order here are a few honourable mentions:

If it wasn't for these guys I'd have an empty gallery

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/23144818/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/23144818/ Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:33:08 PST [link] It's one of the few peices in my gallery that I'm not completely sick of. I tend to tire of my work five minutes after posting it, so it's a refreshing change. Anywho, I'm digressing. Thanks to everyone for the faves.

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/22614512/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/22614512/ Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:05:59 PST
]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/21217906/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/21217906/ Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:09:56 PDT
]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/20801889/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/20801889/ Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:25:31 PDT
Sure anyone can turn out the odd success, but T.P.C. is the only way to achieve consistency. Most people think it’s a gift to be able to draw. I think the gift is having the eye to know what looks good. Technique is knowing the tricks to get it on the page. All the great and good artists use tricks and cheats to get the desired result. You only Practice these tricks until you don’t have to think of them as tricks anymore. When it stops becoming formulaic and just becomes drawing you gain Confidence. Confidence enough to experiment. Confidence enough even to refer to yourself as an artist. Confidence to create your own art outside the confines of the Practiced Techniques.

These things are the makings of a true artist.

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/20228767/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/20228767/ Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:17:36 PDT
As Dumbledore said "I think a change of decoration is in order" so you'll notice (when it finally trickles through the site) that my avatar has changed to something less morose.

This is not only to celebrate the many pageviews but also to celebrate or more commemorate my big move to Sydney (Australia) from London (England).

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/19195162/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/19195162/ Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:34:06 PDT
Altered Beasts (Megadrive) – My Prerogative: Bobby Brown
Toki (Megadrive) – Nuthin’ But a G Thang: Dr. Dre
Panzer Dragoon (Saturn) – Last Night: Az Yet

Anyone else have this?


There are of course game soundtracks that it would be criminal to not listen too. Such as:

Daytona USA, Sega Rally (actually anything by Takenobu Mitsuyoshi), Sonic the Hedgehog (Masato Nakamura is a god), any Mario game (Koji Kondo), Shenmue (was that Nakamura again?).

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/18714793/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/18714793/ Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:30:20 PDT
]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/17748536/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/17748536/ Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:46:37 PDT
The book in question is DC’s Kingdom Come written by Mark Waid and Illustrated by Alex Ross and I have to say I’m in two minds about it. I was both awed and disappointed. Everything about this book comes with a ‘but’. The story is great, but the writing feels stifled by the format. The artwork is sublime (Ross uses gouache which is like thick watercolour), ‘but’ it shows it’s photo references too readily. The book is either too big for it’s boots (delusions of grandeur) or it’s a few hundred pages too short.

Don’t read this expecting action. For a book that’s supposed to be about a war among Gods (Classic/traditional superheroes vs the new breed of more violent vigilantes) it has very little combat. Lot’s of pre battle posing and grappling (rendered beautifully by Ross I should say) with a few projectiles thrown about the frame at nobody in particular. But (there’s that word again) no real bust ups. The best thing about supers fighting supers (especially when their opposing powers are considerably different) is the inventive ways in which they can attack, defend and counter each other. The only real fight comes with the Captain Marvel vs Superman tussle, but that’s pretty much just one or two punches thrown and lots of lightning.

I know it sounds like I’m tearing this book a new one, but I’m not. It’s just that it promises so much by looking so damn good that there’s no way for such high expectations to be met. Besides, it’s worth reading just to see Superman in dungarees with a ponytail, grey at his temples and a double chin.

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/17435686/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/17435686/ Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:50:56 PDT

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/17029208/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/17029208/ Sat, 23 Feb 2008 17:07:11 PST [link] but as it reads more like a journal entry I decided to post it as such.

I’ve completely changed my colouring style lately. I was getting a little disenchanted with the whole thing and felt that I was stagnating. A few experimental colourings later in the form of Grantgoboom’s Hobbit [link] followed by Cobbyman’s Lion-0 [link] and I came to the conclusion that I shade much better in mono. I was always more comfortable with a pencil than a paintbrush and it just feels more natural for me.

The first real test for my new technique was Mike’s (AKA Tyrannus) Sean of the Dead [link] As that turned out ok I wanted to really push myself. So armed with this new ‘weapon’ I attacked Mike’s Fantastic Four drawing [link] (something I would never have tried before). I finished it. It came out pretty well, even if I do say so myself.

I’ve since done a whole bunch of colourings of Mike’s work (check out his gallery btw it’s bloody brilliant [link] )

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/16577734/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/16577734/ Sat, 26 Jan 2008 07:55:11 PST
]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/16359019/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/16359019/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:54:14 PST
My problem is (and has always been) that my ambition and creativity far surpass my talent. I have no shortage of visual ideas, I just don’t have the skill to realise them the way I envisage them.

I wonder, does every ‘artist’ feel this way?

]]> ~billythebrain http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/16358688/ http://billythebrain.deviantart.com/journal/16358688/ Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:31:15 PST Group hug everyone.

]]> ~billythebrain