#Artissmart Creation: “Blade Runner Gerard” Tutorial, Videos, And a Few Words On The Contest
I had an awesome opportunity this week to engage in the twitter based “#artissmart” contest; a contest based on the former profile photo of Gerard Way for those who don’t know. Thousands participated, and in the end there were several winners and runners up. Some of the responses were very supportive while others were arrogant and nasty. Some felt very strongly that they were entitled to win (no one is), but here are some thoughts on myself being a participants and others as well: I had a lot of personal support from fellow participants and fans who were looking at entries, and several had mentioned that I “should have won”. While it’s awesome to have that kind of support (and I thank you for the vote of confidence & passionate responses!) I’m not even sore at all about not winning, and I can say that in all honesty. Was I disappointed? Mmm slightly initially I’ll admit, but not so much because mine wasn’t chosen, but the entries that were chosen. Some I loved! Others, I was a …
They’ve Got The Fire: An Interview with Illustrator & Paper Artist Katy Rogers!
Tell us a bit about yourself. When did you notice you first had a talent for illustrating and creating? How did your career as an artist begin and unravel?
My name is Katy and I’m currently a junior at a small art school in Massachusetts. I often to by KatyChemical online and people either know me for my portraits or for being a huge My Chem fan.
I always had an interest in the arts and when I was younger I really enjoyed crafts. In the eighth grade our art teachers changed and the new one took things a little more seriously. She gave us an assignment where we had to basically do a gridded portrait and being that I was so obsessed with Harry Potter at the time I decided to draw Daniel Radcliffe. It was one of the best ones in the class and they hung it up in the display case in the hall. Of course looking back now it’s not that great haha. I was really psyched about it though and I kept trying to draw that way but I got distracted for a while as I evolved into a high schooler. In…
What It Feels Like To Photograph Madonna!: MDNA Comes To St. Louis
I’ll admit that I’m a longtime, huge Madonna fan. I grew up listening to her, admiring her, and being mesmerized by her ability to reinvent herself and her look and keep pushing boundaries artistically. Growing up in a very religious home, I wasn’t allowed to buy her albums, but I made every attempt to listen to her on the radio, read about her, and sneak watching her on Mtv (when Mtv actually played music videos). I think every young girl who grew up listening to Madonna in the 80′s and 90′s wanted to practically be her.
She did not disappoint at all with her lush background, extravagant dancers and costume changes, and her performance itself. St. Louis had waited 3 decades to see her in concert, and it was well beyond worth the wait. I feel very blessed I was able to photograph her and stay for the show in the coveted “Golden Triangle” pit area (the small area inside the main stage circle dedicated to fans winning competitions) and share the experience with some longtime friends.…
New and improved website! Now with new Art 101 features, portfolios, and ninart.com archives!
Well, hello…it’s been a while and I’ve been meaning to get this site revamped and off the ground again. I found myself slacking on blog posts to once a month. So what better to do than invest in a new site layout (as all the free Wordpress layouts always had something that wasn’t quite right in one area or another) and use that as a catalyst?!
So here’s what’s in store for this website and what’s been redone:
-An online official store will be active and online very soon. I’m adding art for sale and prints as we speak; an official announcement will be made once it’s up. Just have to work out the nooks and crannies.
-Revamped the entire portfolio section, breaking it down into different subcategories in the navigation bar above. You’ll find the updated main gallery but also:
Paintings - Acrylics, gouache, watercolor..you name it!
Digital Art - Pretty self explanatory
Illustrations/Drawings - Colored pencil, pen & ink, graphite, etc.
Portraits - The faces you kno…
What’s Next? Collaboration with Shadow The Machine Angel’s Universe Of Characters!
httpvh://youtu.be/d0ez8BFAfZg
It’s always been a dream of mine to be able to combine the illustration work I do with the music business. I’ve always been a music lover and if you know me, it fuels and inspires every piece of my art. You could say this is more than just a bucket list item to cross off. I’ve been approached to create some artwork for the musical group, Shadow The Machine Angel, who’ve gone to great lengths to create an entire universe of characters to go along with their infectious beats. I’ll be designing a poster for an upcoming show they have later this month in Chicago and in this poster will be the StMA characters (whom you can see in both their trailer above and their “Daylight’s End” music video that you can view below). …
Never Before Seen MCR Photos Just For You…By Me.
My Chemical Romance are probably one of the few and far between bands that I can go back and comb through their photos and find new gems. Well, “old new” gems in the hundreds of shots I’ve taken of them. They may be the only. Suppose I’m just feeling nostalgic and have tour fever. The point is, I’m doing this mostly for you, the fans, the band that I love, and lastly, myself. I think it’s a good exercise in reexamining your photography when you can. These guys just happen to be the perfect combo of not just being amazing performers but also photogenic/energetic for concert photographers. …
Enchanting Glow: The Lantern Festival at Missouri Botanical Gardens
For all of you seeking a truly enchanted experience and live in the St. Louis area, stop by the Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis for the Lantern Festival. This exhibition features huge sculptures lit from within and make for a photographer’s dream. Even if you aren’t a photographer you will enjoy the mesmerizing glow of these works of art. Everything from Chinese zodiac lanterns to a 4 faced Buddha, there’s something for everyone. Even the kids will love it when the centerpiece dragons located by the Chihuly sculpture pond light up, puff smoke, and play music. It’s truly romantic for the couple seeking something different for a date night as well! Scroll down and check out the gallery below! The lantern festival at the Missouri Botanical Garden runs until August 19th, so hurry quick and check it out! …
The Most Inspirational Speech For The Artists & Right Brainers by Kevin Smith
httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIVWjz0lidA
Thanks to filmmaker Kevin Smith, this is one of the most inspirational speeches you will ever hear for those of us who are artists and/or love to create. One of the things that’s most appealing to Smith’s fans is that he’s the guy next door; the dude you’d hang out and chat on for hours about comics with. He’s not a Hollywood douche. He’s tangible and he knows what it is to be an artist and still be down to earth. I don’t feel I should add to much to this blog entry simply because I want this speech to speak for itself. Please listen closely to the story he tell of his father’s passing and how that relates to his statements later about encouraging each other’s as artists and living a ‘why not?!’ life! < --!more-->I was watching this on Netflix a few weeks ago from his “Burn In Hell” DVD live Q&A, and it was just the thing I needed to hear. I’ve seen all of his Q&A DVD’s and have had memorable moments, but this one was the golden one…
