"The White Hart" Work-in-progress 2

More work on "The White Hart." Just started on the foreground. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks, guys.

Announcement: Classes with David Mueller

From David: New classes now forming!

I am currently taking sign-ups for the new sessions of my weekly “Sophisticated Fundamentals” classes. I will be forming two groups of 8-10. Classes will begin mid-summer.

Please e-mail and I will send detailed information about the classes.

Classes are taught at a studio in Covington, KY and will be filled on a first come-first served basis.
859-835-3175
davidfineart@fuse.net
http://www.davidmuellerfineart.com/

Announcement: Mark Willenbrink at the Evendale Fine Arts Exhibit 2010

Come to enjoy three of Mark's newer oil paintings along with many other beautiful pieces of art.

Evendale Fine Arts Exhibit 2010


Opening Reception

Friday, May 7
6:00—9:30 PM
Showing from May 7 – 10, 2010

Evendale Recreation Center
10500 Reading Road
Evendale, Ohio 45241

Sponsored by the Village of Evendale, the Evendale Recreation Department and the Recreation Commission

You are invited to the Opening Reception on Friday evening, May 7, 2010 from 6:00PM to 9:30PM in the Community Room of the Evendale Recreation Center at 10500 Reading Road in Evendale.


Over 80 area artists are exhibiting original paintings and sculpture in this community show, juried by nationally known Cincinnati artist and Evendale resident, Joyce Phillips Young.

Live, classical musicians will provide accompaniment at the opening reception.

VIEWING TIMES:

Friday, May 7 6 pm—9:30 pm
Saturday, May 8 12 pm—5 pm
Sunday, May 9 1 pm—4 pm
Monday, May 1 12 pm—4 pm

For additional information: 513.563.2247

Consequences Schmonsequences

I just designed this as the fifth of my posters for sale, and I'm so proud to finally have worked in a Moral Message.

Here's two opposing views on the subject:

"To get back one's youth one has merely to repeat one's follies." - Oscar Wilde.

"Consequences, schmonsequences. As long as I'm rich." - Daffy Duck.

Jerry Dowling: News Portraits for Restaurant

From Jerry: Here are three of these dudes. There will be 16 total for now and more later. I assume it is the budget, as usual.


Here's the poop on the restaurant. I don't know if it has a name yet. It's either in Fairfield or West Chester, opening June or July.

The Pub will have a Founding Fathers theme. The decor will tell a story starting with the Boston Tea Party, Declaration of Independence, Revolutionary war, Constitution, through Washington's Presidency and pictures of all 44 Presidents. We have a 320 sq. foot room that will have an Americans Heroes Wall honoring all branches of the military, police, and firefighters and the heroes from 9/12.. In this room will be a Fox wall with a TV tuned to Fox News and the caricatures on that wall.

NEW CINCINNATI ROLLERGIRLS COMMERCIAL!

Cincinnati Rollergirls Kitten Kicker (left) and Penni Pusha star in the latest CRG commercial.

There's a new Cincinnati Rollergirls commercial up on their YouTube channel. Check it out, and don't forget to be at the Cincinnati Gardens May 8 to watch the Rollergirls take on Chicago!

Got Chocolate Milk?

This character was designed to be put on a fake box of cereal for a "Got Chocolate Milk?" commercial. As you can see from the sketches below, the agency wanted me to just "go nuts"(get it?) with the character. As you can see, he's crazy for Cocoa Nuts! But when it came time to film the commercial, they decided to play down the crazy aspect. They pasted a "Special Offer Magic Ring" starburst over just about all of the straightjacket. I'm sure this was done for mental health sensitivity reasons.

I have the finished commercial on a VHS tape but have not been able to find it anywhere online or on youtube.

Anyway, it was fun to be given free reign to draw whatever in a character design. Although I have been known to get away with putting nostrils on dolphins!

I really should follow Chuck's photo reference advice.

Winter Finished

I was waiting for feedback on my next book cover sketch and finished this little drawing off today. It is for a series of four illustrations based on the seasons. The sketch is here.

This will be the last and I sketched it when there was snow. Each will have a big colorful skirt-this is the final after the fall which will be torn and blowing away. here, the skirt is the equivalent of the bare tree. You get the idea.

Cheezy Character!

I mentioned that I would post some character design work and the stories behind them. This is a dolphin character I created for Austin Foods.

This job was not a problem at all, although there were curious requests and decisions made along the way. First of all this character was changed for the cover of the box as they had me remove his teeth and tongue! I don't know why they wanted the tongue removed, but I have heard of other instances about not wanting cartoon characters with pointed teeth showcased on the packaging of food products. I think the character looks odd without his inner mouth elements.

Now take a look at this (below)...

For some strange reason they wanted teeth for the dolphin on the side panel, but not the rounded pointed type a dolphin would have. They wanted human style teeth!

Looks weird! It's one of the things I really hate about CGI animal character designs.

Don't put human teeth on cartoon animals!!!

What does the future want from an illustrator?

Please help by providing your thoughts to the question, "What does the future want from an illustrator?"

Maybe we can make this into a book for buyers?

Flaming Medusa Studios is Born

Cincinnati, Ohio (April 26, 2010)- DarcyVDesign, Inc. last appeared in the news in conjunction with the creation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 25th Anniversary Movie. Now the company would like to announce that it is renamed Flaming Medusa Studios Inc. beginning April 26, 2010.

The name change is being carried out to further focus the company’s branding on animation, and to reflect the company’s strengths, personality, and belief system.

The mythological figure of Medusa was chosen to represent the company because of her fame in ancient lore, and because of Medusa’s inherent ability to captivate. The underlying feminist thread of her tale also provides food for thought for the woman-owned company.

About mythological Medusa
The legend of Medusa originated in Libya, where she was worshipped as a serpent-goddess. Her tale then moved to Greece where she assumed the name Medusa, the translation of which means “sovereign female wisdom” in several languages. The idea of Medusa’s head as a threat or weapon was also developed during that time. Some researchers view her eventual beheading as a symbolic silencing of female wisdom and expression.

Medusa’s famous serpentine hair also adds to her mythology. The serpent is representative of the cycles of nature. It also symbolizes immortality, as the serpent was at one point believed to shed its skin indefinitely.

About Flaming Medusa Studios
Flaming Medusa strives to make every one of our client’s projects legendary by utilizing outside-the-box creative solutions combined with state-of-the-art creative techniques to provide animation, illustration, and graphic design. Let us use our knowledge and experience to create, perpetuate, and enhance your company’s mythology.

Remember: mythology doesn’t just form your business- it can also transform your business, and inform the public. Let us put mythology to work for you.

For more information on how Flaming Medusa Studios puts mythology to work, contact Darcy Vorhees:
+1.513.539-7725, darcy@flamingmedusa.com or visit www.flamingmedusa.com

Announcement: Dr. Seuss Exhibit at Malton Gallery

Malton Gallery is putting on an exhibit of art by Dr. Seuss featuring "rare and never before seen works from the 1920's to the early 1990's". The Exhibit is from May 1(opening reception) until June 5th.

Nice article about the exhibit in the Cincinnati Enquirer by Kathy Schwartz. It says there will be over 50 pieces featured!