Naboo Vista

I don't know why, maybe it's the blue skies and rounded buildings, but something about this image of Naboo's capital city is just so peaceful. While the film's dialogue in the bits with Anakin and Padme are an affront to the acting profession, the pastoral scenes on Naboo always make me wish I could live there. You know, if there were no Gungans living nearby underwater...On most days the upper left quadrant (more skies, less urban sprawl) is my desktop image.

Dick Giordano: 1932-2010

I just found out that one of my lifelong artistic influences has gone to the big superhero clubhouse in the sky.

Dick Giordano passed away today at the age of 77. He was best known for his work at DC Comics as an inker, penciler and editor. His pairing with Neal Adams left major marks on Batman, Deadman and Green Lantern/Green Arrow in the 70's, and he drew more covers across the DC line than anyone. He mentored a generation of the best-known inkers in the business, including Terry Austin (Uncanny X-Men), Bob Layton (Iron Man), and many others. As an editor he was instrumental in the success of Justice League of America and Teen Titans in the 80's, and in forming DC's Vertigo imprint (The Sandman, Animal Man, Death, The Saga of the Swamp Thing, Hellblazer, etc...), thus paving the way for an influx of writers (Peter Milligan, Neil Gaiman, etc...) from the UK. Two of my other major influences, George Perez and John Byrne had their work (Crisis on Infinite Earths and Action Comics, respectively) inked by Mr. Giordano to memorable effect. His monthly "Meanwhile..." columns in DC's comics were a window into the inner workings of the company for over a decade.

Most importantly to me, month after month in the 1970's and 80's his clean lines, eye for detail, fluid motion and dynamic poses lit a fire in my mind and shaped the way I've been drawing for many decades. His heroes & heroines were bold and powerful, and his women were beautiful and realistic. Any time he stepped back up to the inking board in later years I always checked out his work with much fondness. I will always be grateful for his talent, and he will be missed, not only by me, but also by the legions of artists he inspired and the fans he entertained & amazed with his imagination.
Art credits: Aquaman - Dick Giordano. Women of DC '76 - Dick Giordano. Batman - Bob Layton inks over Dick Giordano pencils.

Focus

I spend a lot of time poring over artist websites. If I see an image on a blog or in a magazine, I hunt down the creator's site the very next time I am online, and just immerse myself in the drawings, paintings, etc... I was hitting the 'Next Blog' button here on Blogspot last night, and I was sent to several artist sites in a row. The one that stood out was Celia Calle. Her mastery of the female form is sublime. She imbues her subjects with such sass and kinetic energy that they appear as if they could walk right out of the picture and turn an ordinary night out on the town into a capital 'A' Adventure. She has done advertising work for major companies, comic book covers, and illustrations for Penthouse and ESPN.

I have a bookmark folder with many other artists whose work I admire, and go back to when I need inspiration. Tara McPherson has been a favorite of mine for many years. Her concert posters (many of them featuring favorites of mine such as The Breeders, Beck and Throwing Muses) are amazing, with bold colors and grab-your-nuts images that make you want to know the backstory. And her comic book covers always draw one's eye to them on the racks. She has an interesting perspective on the world, and on love's loss. I would like to have a print or two of hers on my wall someday.

Luke Chueh is another old favorite. I find his work a little bleak (and a lot morbid) now, but back during my 3 years on Cape Cod I could appreciate his dark commentary. He has a way of showing the dark side of pop culture icons, and a unique take on self-destructive behaviors and sadness.

The point of today's post is this: lately I feel a very strong urge to spend less time doodling, and more time doing serious work that might put me amongst the ranks of the artistically productive and significant. I have ideas (SO many ideas), but a relatively scattered brain. I need to focus on projects, and do them to completion, and not just jot down or sketch ideas and leave them to molder away in piles of dusty notebooks. And I need to choose a few things (or *GASP* one thing) to focus on and do so well that I could do it in my sleep. Going forward I am going to spend as much time (if not more) on visual design as I do on eating right, working out, and guitar practice. Not only will it hone my skills (and hopefully assist in charting a new career path), but there will be lots of original work to see for any folks who click the 'Next Blog' button and wind up here!

In-Blog Play:

Out of the Blue - Yonder Mount...