Who's Back? Me? Okay...

Yeah...i'm back.....

Although I was never gone...i'm back...with a vengeance.
Think of the absence as a time of growing. Think of it as me pulling a "Jay Electronica", taking an eternity to only give you the best and nothing less.
"Think, but not too deep. For you will miss what you learned in your sleep."

(If anyone gets that line...easy $5) 

Stay tuned!

-K

Act to Assemble: The Avengers Movie Experience

The Avengers Movie Experience

                From the first Iron Man film in 2008, I think most of us knew that something big was about to happen. First reaction upon seeing Nick Fury at the end of the movie was, “Holy shit, really?” Everyone immediately thought of an Avengers film, but did we really think it would happen? Well…

                After that came The Incredible Hulk where we also saw Tony Stark informing General Ross of the “Avengers Initiative” DAMN!! I felt like turning into my own little Hulk, but with hype instead of rage. Iron Man 2 arrives and ends up not being as good as the first, but still great nonetheless. We get a quick glimpse of Thor’s hammer and then 2 years later we get the Thor film. This was by far my favorite despite (http://hinterlandgazette.com/2010/04/thor-fans-upset-idris-elba-black-man-to.html) issues "some" people had with the film. At the end of that we see the plot thickening for an actual Avengers movie. Next up comes Captain America which I sort of expected to suck, but blew me away at the end of the day. After seeing the first Avengers trailer at the end of that…I was done. I wanted it and I wanted it NOW. Flash-forward to 2012 May 4^th 12:30am…it’s Avengers time.

                The plot was pretty basic where Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, The Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye are directed under Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D to stop Loki (Thor’s half-brother) from destroying Earth with a cube of energy called The Tesseract. With a big cast of characters like this, the simple plot was just right. If it was anything else this movie would have been a mess. It’s actually difficult to write this, because I still can’t explain how I felt seeing all these characters grow. Hulk was confused in his own movie, still trying to learn how to control his anger. In the Avengers, it’s like he was content with who he was. That’s a HUGE change for such a highly-disturbed character and Mark Ruffalo perfected it. I almost don’t want to see anyone else play the Hulk even though Ed Norton was fantastic. From his movements, to his voice, to the way he was designed, this movie finally gave us a real Hulk. One who smashes EVERYTHING! Iron Man probably stole the entire show with his humor. Robert Downey Jr. owned this role like it was his last. It’s almost as if he’s born to play Tony Stark. His reaction towards every other superhero is priceless. Almost like the bully and annoying brat of the group with too much money, but all the right tools to save them. Chris Evans (Captain America) really surprised me. This guy picks some of the most typical roles, but he must have known how much his life was on the line with this one. As a man who was frozen in time and thawed out in the future, he definitely seemed out of place and present at the right time. Agent Coulson (who had a massive nerdgasm for Cap, which was hilarious) said it best, “With what we’re about to face, people could use a little old-fashion.” Captain America is the benchmark for everything perfect about a superhero and his presence gave the rest of the cast every reason to look up to him. Thor, who is starting to become one of my favorite heroes, had one of the dopest entrances for a superhero. You have to see it for yourself. People should never refer to him without “Mighty” in front of his name.  Each time he spun his hammer, loads of damage ensued. And those lightning strikes…WHAT?! Black Widow was entertaining. Her character was so strong in the face of every other hero, except the Hulk. When she finally meets him in full-form we see a shattered soul of a character who was once deadlier than them all. She and Hawkeye were the “weaklings” of the crew (considering neither of them have powers or any addition strength), but held their own well with the rest of them. Hawkeye’s rage was almost as bad as the Hulk’s that I’m really surprised they didn’t fight. Loki on the other hand, probably gave the greatest performance out of everyone. His mood constantly changed throughout the film as a God amongst mortals to a God amongst non-believers. Some of his facial expressions were amazing. It was so difficult to tell what he was thinking and what he was doing if he wasn’t speaking. As a master of trickery that Loki is, it was fulfilling to see him meddle with each of the Avengers mentally and physically. The scene with him and Black Widow was powerful and very clever. He was able to manipulate each one of them in his own way, separately, while still maintaining character. Tom Hiddleston destroyed that role so no one else could fill it.  And to think I wanted Michael Emerson to play him.

                Overall I thought it was incredible. From the buildup, to the actual film, to the credits, everything surpassed my expectations. This is one movie that I really don’t have anything to complain about or just don’t WANT to complain. Not a single scene disappointed me. That final scene when they all get together just brought tremendous joy as a Marvel fan. I don’t even want to discuss the personal fights they had with each other, because I feel I’d be saying too much. I will say that the fight between the Hulk and Thor was outstanding and you’ll be clapping out of your seat watching it. Anyone who has read the comics, you know how big that is. Mind you, I saw this film in IMAX, so it was loud as hell and my eyes were everywhere. This was also my first time seeing IMAX so maybe the entire “experience” made the movie better than it is. This might be true considering the second time I saw it (I actually saw it twice in the same day) the sound quality was much lower and I started to miss the 3D. It was still an amazing movie without it, but if you can see it in IMAX, do that first. You’d almost be doing a disservice if you didn’t. The big Marvel fan that I am couldn’t be happier about it and I hope everyone else sees how big this film really is. It’s much more than a superhero film and we can all learn something from these larger than life characters. This movie was an example of a group of powerful people doing powerful things. Anyone can take an idea like that and apply it to everyday life and this was such an entertaining display of that. I can’t thank Joss Whedon enough for putting this all together so correctly. Maybe one day I’ll see my own name in the production credits. One can only be a “true believer.”

You need further proof on how "big" this film is? Read what Loki had to say about it. You could say this is clever advertising, but if you think about it...he has a point.

http://io9.com/5904076/why-superhero-movies-are-more-than-just-popcorn-fare

               "In our increasingly secular society, with so many disparate gods and different faiths, superhero films present a unique canvas upon which our shared hopes, dreams and apocalyptic nightmares can be projected and played out." - Tom Hiddleston

PS – The “secret” scene after the initial credits….OOOOOH!!! Yeah, that’s exactly what I said. So glad it wasn't a budget-cut Galactus!

-K

New Samples, Big Ideas

Here's a few pieces I worked on recently that probably need to see light.

UPDATE: Better quality photos will also be uploaded soon. My apologies for the darkness

-The first image is of Rose's Alternate Outfit from Street Fighter IV. This actually a practice design for a friend that will be combined with other poses.  I wasn't really feeling the gypsy pants so I'm actually doing this piecee over.

-The second piece is of a mutant baby coming out of a cocoon. I was just trying to do something different here. The colored version will be posted.

-The third piece is a small sample of a larger illustration. I can't reveal what the entire piece is yet. As you can see it involves a raging Hulk! Mashing those teeth!!

 

Enjoy

-K

Viewing and Venturing Part ONE

For the past few weeks I took some time to catch up on some "personal" time. I'm always busy so when I do have my personal time I use it well. Yes, part of that includes me sitting on my ass, but I'm still highly active even when I'm still. There were a few days where i just left one sock on, made a lazy dinner, messed up room intentionally and relaxed. I call this the "Half-Ass Glass"; I'm not full nor, am I empty. ;-) One method I use for finding creativity is making an attempt to enjoy every day events from a different perspective. With my surroundings clearly in chaos and no direction, I'm adding another element to how I view everyday life. It may not be the greatest way to experience things, but I'll learn something new.

So with that said, I watched some shows and movies that I didn't get a chance to when they first came out.
Here's a little run down of what's been happening on my crazy canvas of life:

BBC's "LUTHER" (2010)

 

-This show is brilliant. 'Nuff said. I know many might disagree from the awkward slope of consistency the show offers, but the acting is worth it. John Luther (Idris Elba) is a genius detective with a trouble past and serious anger issues. The most interesting thing about the series is watching Luther try to control his emotions in and outside of his cases.

It's better to watch the show than listen to me explain it. The clip above is a good example of just how dynamic Luther's character is.

Trollhunter (2011)

 

-What a wierd, but clever film. I had no idea what to expect from this and I'm glad I was thrown into a pleasant surprise. It's about 3 Norwegian students that film a documentary on this hunter who is tracking "trolls." Yeah...trolls.

Don't let that steer you away, these "so-called" trolls are some of the coolest creatures you'll meet. They are so well designed they look believable. Each troll is monstrous and highly convincing in the territories they inhabit. People should admire the creativity in foreign directors. You would never see something
this cool in America.

We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)

 

-Wow. Before you even THINK about watching this, be prepared for how mentally, spiritually, and visually disturbing it can become. It stars Tilda Swinton who begins to question her life-choices after her son commits a school massacre with no motive. Things become clear towards the middle of the film, but sitting through the entire film with an easy stomach may be difficult. The pacing, the soundtrack, and incredible acting make this an experience you probably shouldn't miss.

There's much more, but I'll save that for another time.

Part TWO to this post will include:

American Horror Story

Insidious

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)

Hugo

Currency's Covert Coup

Action Bronson's Party Supplies

Esperanza Spalding's Radio Music Society
Street Fighter X Tekken
Resident Evil Operation Raccoon City
Kid Icarus 3DS

Until then, check out those previous suggestions and let me
know what you think.

Didn't forget about the artwork! I'll be posting some
of that also.

-K

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Garbage

So, I showed the inked version of this to a few other people before I colored it or even saw the second Ghost Rider movie. I was in a good mood after finishing this too. I had high hopes for Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance. Then I saw the movie...which was probably the worst Marvel movie of all time.

If I get into details about how bad the movie was it's just going to get me mad. It's actually a movie where the reviewers are actually on-point. There's NO way you can say the movie was "entertaining." Anyway, I designed this Ghost Rider image in honor of the movie.

Actually I take back that honor, i'm never illustrating Ghost Rider again. I can't picture him without Nick Cage's bad acting...

Enjoy

 -K

The 13th...

This is very similar to my own personality and beliefs. As much as astrology turns a lot of people off, I'm somehow able to gather from this and make good use of it.

My life has been...interesting. Not that this is 100% accurate, but there are many similarities here that make me realize the type of person I can be. If you have the time, go to the following blog and check out your own birth date. If you open your mind you may just find something interesting about yourself.

Here's my part. I was on born on the 13th...but not in March.

Your Birth Day number is 13: You have a great love of family, tradition, and community. You are the foundation of any enterprise you commit to, doing your work with determination and precision.You love things that are solid and grounded in the practical. Yet, you possess a considerable amount of artistic talent that is searching for concrete forms of expression. Not surprisingly, you love nature - the ultimate union of beauty, form, and function. You are a natural organizer and manager with an eye for detail. You can work hard, long, and conscientiously. As long as you are taking good care of yourself, you have excellent concentration. You have to be careful not to become overworked to the point that you no longer take time to play and smell the roses.Your co-workers recognize your discipline and come to rely upon you. Ironically, you may feel that you have yet to find the work you truly love or were meant to do. There may be a feeling that your talents are buried too deep for you to find them. This can lead to try many different vocations without a feeling that you have truly found your place. Your challenge is to make the most of what you are doing right now. You must raise the work you are currently responsible for to a high degree of art. Make the most of what is right in front of you. The universe is guiding you always. You need to cultivate faith and a willingness to apply yourself to the matter at hand. If you refuse to develop such an attitude, you may wander from job to job, relationship to relationship. Use your considerable perseverance and determination.You can be stubborn and rigid, refusing to allow new and creative ideas to penetrate your rigid adherence to established methods. This can, and often does, lead to frustration and repression for you. Things seem to take forever, especially when you resist bringing fresh approaches into your very tidy and comfortable ways of doing things. The keys to your success are your willingness to maintain order and discipline in your life, and to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.

This excerpt was taken from (c) ZodiacFacts

-K

Nightcrawler

Happy Valentine's!! Sort of...:-)

The Master of Magnet??

Good news is, I finally finished the drawing of Magneto that I was working on from before. Bad news is...I lost the picture. Sometimes when you come from work and you're tired as all hell, you just forget. That's exactly what I did...walked off the train and forgot my sketchbook was on there. Epic Fail...

Luckily, I was able to get a picture (not a great photograph, but it will do) before I left my common sense on the train as well. Had some issues with the hands, but overall it was a fun experience. Excuse the "buffness"...this is "power hungry" Mags. :-p

If I hadn't of lost this, Storm and Sentinel would have been right behind him! Damn...big hopes for this. Determination won't allow me to stop! 

K-

The Master of Magnet? (Process)

Here's a draft of Magneto from the X-Men series. He's been hittin the gym lately...

An 8 Armed Feeling

This is just one of those days I wish I had 8 arms...lucky thing for this guy here.

-K

More people should take survival lessons from these magnificent creatures btw. Being alone isn't so bad when you're smart enough to adapt.

Strange Sea Tides Pt. 1

Got a series of drawings of underwater creatures that will be one big drawing in the next coming months.
Here's some previews.

The lion fish is a photocopy. Hence the line. 

-K

70s Disco Boa Constrictor

Going along with the last post filled with "scaled" lizards, here's another reptile to top it off. I tried to put a little bit of variety in the scale pattern to change things up. Eventually i'm going to get it right where I can make detailed scales and implement them onto other things. Repetition is always challenging.

I also worked on a colored version in marker as well. This was fun. I just went nuts, but tried to keep it uniform in a sense. If I ever saw a large boa with these colors......man.

Also here is the video that inspired me to work on this. Hope you enjoyed!

-K

Leviathan Tattoo Process

Hope everyone's starting the new year off right! Most likely it's the same thing you were doing the year before and more, but still...:-)

I wanted to share the process of a tattoo I recently designed for a friend. I went through several steps of the design process that I wanted to share with everyone, because this piece was actually challenging and a lot of fun. I've always had a thing for dragons and was highly fascinated with the mythical lore behind them. I feel dragons represent a certain dignity and ancient presence that most mythical creatures don't seem to harness. They come off as feared, sacred, sheltered and free at the same time. Ancient beasts with the breath of a volcano, but the innocence of an elephant. I tried to keep this in mind when designing this.

DAY I:
Unfortunately, I don't currently have the pre-rough sketches I did, but i'll start off with this in-process final version. I slowly made decisions as I went along filling in all the small details such as the scales and chain details. Most illustrations i'll start by spreading out where I add the contour, but for this I started in one area and kept going.

DAY III:

This is the final version in pencil. I was actually unsure of how to shade everything in, so I left it alone for a few days and made a photocopy to practice. 

DAY VII: 

This is what I came up with for a shaded and inked result after about 3 tries of different layering. I put more emphasis in the scales (which felt like it took years) compared to the small minor details in the chain. I wanted the dragon to feel as if it had a weight to it. Of course, since i'm always looking for something new, I decided to add color to it...

That's where I came up with this...

DAY VIII:

I wanted to keep the colors traditional, because I felt the design of the dragon itself wasn't very traditional. If it were personally up to me though, the whole thing would be purple. Ya'll should know I have a thing for everything purple. Matter a fact this is a good time for some grape drink baby...

Hope you enjoyed this and much as i did! 

You can only obtain as much information as you will yourself to. There's never a limit when it comes to potential!

-K

More work coming in the next few days!