Slay The Space Dragon

 

Slay The Space Dragon by Voltsmyth 

Inspiration be damned. 

What will I do? What can I do? What should I do? 

My own internal struggle isn’t just an artistic one, it is a desperate struggle for the existence of my damaged soul within a confusing, fragile new life beyond cancer. 

What can I do? What should I do? What will I do? 

For me family comes first, which is why I’m still here. However, since winning that battle (for now), I’m now faced with a new, deeply personal question; what do I do next? 

Perhaps, it is because I found a love for art and music when I was very young, that it became a new focus in my mind. During my recovery, without provocation the first skills that re-emerged where those very skills. Even before I could trust myself to handle boiling a kettle, or climbing in and out of a bath, I found the empowering nature of digital art and music on my iPad. 

Like my new pandemic-puppy, this incredible digital device brought me immense cathartic enjoyment, and greatly boosted my confidence and a new sense of identity. Whoosh, that’s heavy!

Art and music therapy has for years been proven to help people heal and improve their lives. I knew this, but no one signed me up for an art therapy course, my soul decided on its own, that the most important choice I could make is to welcome (without judgement) the music and art as it would come to me. I am very grateful, thankful and pleased that it did.

This brings me to how I discovered my new electronic identity, Voltsmyth. This project gives me a joint outlet for both art and music that feed off each other. Engaging in this project (for what it is) presents me with challenges and problem solving opportunities. Penning this very blog is an eye-straining arduous process, fraught with spelling and grammatical mistakes (I have no hope of learning a new language, as I can barely use this one). No one is pushing this agenda or production schedule on me, so I have incurred none of the usual negativity and self-imposed pressure associated with that.  

Thankfully, I have a wild imagination, bizarre concepts continue to flood my mind. Since there is no physical or financial risk involved, and literally no expectations of me, I have thankfully found a stress-free digital playground, where I can focus on my personal love of creativity, on my new uncharted path.

Voltsmyth cosmic-electronica music is available on Bandcamp, streaming services and YouTube. 

Gratefully,
Nudge

My Zine -First Draft Layout and Fold

 Designing My First Single Sheet Zine

I’m really enjoying this clever little design. It takes me way back to my college graphic art program days. I really had to just try out an approach in pen on paper and then test the folds to see if I positioned the page numbers correctly. I wasn’t even thinking of content or visuals yet. 

Once I was satisfied I had the folding mechanism working, then it was on to the rough visual layouts for each page. 

Fully folded zine.

Eight individual pages when folded.

Instead of eight more pages I chose a full poster design.

In an effort to not overwhelm myself on the journalistic front, I’ve decided to keep body copy to a minimum and convey my theme of “The search for immortality” through a more comic book illustration method. Also, instead of adding eight more pages of content on the opposite side, I went with a full page poster of my own fictional character “Professor Joseph Humble” (aka Lord Humble who is already featured in my musical release, titled “The Humble Initiative” now streaming everywhere). I used to love buying magazines that had a center pull out poster you could hang on your wall. So this option is kind of a win-win for me.

I will post the final zine when I get there. 

Until next time, take care.
Nudge

Zines?

Prof. Humble’s Delusions Zine (in development)

 

Who Knew Zines Were Still A Thing?

I recently fell down a rabbit hole all about self publishing zines. A quick search online reveals that these very personal publications are alive and well. 

What’s a Zine?

Amateur press publications have long existed to help give groups or individuals a voice beyond commercial magazines and newspapers with enormous budgets. A Zine is often the passion project of a single individual (writer, artist, creator). Produced in small numbers, usually on an extremely low budget with limited distribution. This grassroots approach has made Zines unique and collectable since their inception.

Before the Internet, self-publishing became possible with the invention of the photocopier. Using rudimentary techniques such as handwritten text and art with pen and ink, or typewritten snippets taped or glued in place (collage), anyone could produce a low cost Zine. And just like that, an underground culture was born. 

Since the evolution of computers, desktop publishing, and the global push to a paperless world of blogging/vlogging and social media, I honestly thought physical Zines would’ve disappeared entirely, but apparently not.

I must say, this rabbit hole goes deep.

Take a deep dive with these links: https://ago.ca/agoinsider/ and https://youtu.be/77eiLeHMB6k?si=onKJkqDQKkjyohce

What are the requirements for a printed Zine?

Outside of any purist opinions, a Zine can physically be as small as a single folded page, or ten folded and staple bound pages. Some Zine creators even use more professionally printed and bound finishes with a large number of copies. 

Great overview of the printing options here: https://youtu.be/NAAfKueIJ2s?si=FR_pJjwHGzvWDafP

Single Letter Size Paper. Can be printed on both sides.

Centre cut, origami fold creates a basic unstapled book. 

What would your zine be about?

The topic, design and layout are absolutely open, no rules, a literal visual and literary playground. Some Zines are filled with text, while some are completely visual. I guess that freedom, is part of the allure.

Take a deep dive into this article:  https://publuu.com/knowledge-base/25-amazing-zine-ideas/

I was rather impressed by the single sheet origami fold method. I haven’t seen a more underground press initiative. So, this is where I’ve decided to brainstorm my first attempt. The topic I’ve chosen is human beings desire to live longer, and maybe even cheat death. I’m curious what I can do with this topic under such tight constraints, (black ink on a single sheet). I guess we’ll see.

As always, if you’ve made it this far, thank you so very much. Now get busy making your Zine. 

Nudge,

A.I. Generated Images

 

Introducing Professor Joseph Humble MD

These impressive images were created by me almost entirely, using a free online AI image generation algorithm.  My involvement began with entering a simple text description, “mad radiation scientist in a laboratory”, and then like George Jetson I pressed the Enter button. Within a matter of a minute each, I was delivered these two images that are incredibly close to the character design I had envisioned. How incredible? How Unbelievable? How the hell does it do it?

The only other input I had was to accept it. I then applied a bit of my own artistic skills on top of it. I used current iPad image editing tools to adjust the colours, contrast and saturation, which ironically are also a form of A.I., so really what did I honestly do. Ultimately, I guess I (human) had an idea, then I gave that to a computer (created by humans) and then I curated it into what you see now.   

Is this wrong? Is it worse that tracing? When I was young I recall “tracing” an image was considered stealing. Is an excel spreadsheet cheating? Is a synthesizer that makes a piano sound, not a piano? These types of questions can go on and on forever.  

Anyway, as a user of things and a happy beneficiary of technology, I see myself being in any position to stop or change the course of technology. I often look at century old photos of cities and remark at all the horses in the streets. Horses were the cars and tools of the day. These days, people don’t seem to miss the horse shit in the streets.

Looking to the future, keep your eyes peeled for more from Professor Joseph Humble MD. There’s more to be seen and heard of from him and his Humble Initiative. The first project has already been leaked to the universe. It’s an audio romp involving the doctor and an unfortunate reluctant hero name ‘X1’. It is available on Bandcamp.com and most streaming platforms as ‘The Humble Initiative’ by Voltsmyth. 

Remember, “We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams”. Arthur William Edgar O’Shaughnessy from the poem ODE. Famously said by the character Willy Wonka.

Be good to yourself, Nudge.  

Thoughts On Sketching

Capturing Ideas is Messy Business

Capturing your ideas, can and perhaps should be a quick and dirty endeavour. Artists use terms like gestures or thumbnails, but what they’re ultimately trying to say is, draw quickly with less detail. Attempt to convey your first thought, without over thinking it. In some ways this is the essence of the art of sketching.

Gesture drawings by Leonardo da Vinci

Today more than ever before, people regularly carry with them some form of sketchbook and mark making tools. Thanks to the Internet and Amazon, the variety of sketching materials and inspirational examples are endless. However, the one thing that I’ve noticed is that this global access has morphed the simple act of sketching into the act of producing miniature portfolios of perfection. 

I’ve been drawing since I could hold a crayon, and even I have felt the pull towards making every page of a sketchbook a masterpiece, worthy of a place on Instagram. For some it may come easy, but for many like myself, there’s an unwanted stress added to an action that should contain no stress at all. 

In life drawing classes, the instructor may have you do timed drawings. 1, 5, or 10 minute drawings whereby your goal is to capture the general feeling of weight and movement. In drawings this quick there’s certainly no time for perfection. 

An Illustrated Life, by Danny Gregory

In author/artist Danny Gregory’s book An Illustrated Life, he does a great job of highlighting a wide range of talented sketchbook artist’s works. To my earlier point, some of his chosen examples are very detailed and one could only imagine they were not quickly achieved. There’s nothing wrong with doing good work in a sketchbook, but for those of us who may fall victim to the threat of comparison it can be daunting. 

I understand that this says more about me, than the idea of sketching, but perhaps there maybe others that may shy away from working in a sketchbook, or maybe they just never took art classes and had no idea you’re allowed to make messy incomplete drawings. I think it’s helpful to point out that, not every page of your sketchbook needs to be a masterpiece. Mastering the art of sketching the shapes and movements you’re mind and eyes are seeing is the most important thing. There’s plenty of time to make a pretty drawing or painting, but your ideas, or some live action before you, flies by in an instant. Sketch it quickly, before it’s gone. 

Thanks,

Nudge

Procreate continues to amaze

 

Amazing Custom Digital Markers

As a graphic arts student in the mid 1980s, marker rendering was the quickest way for designers to present their ideas to clients. I recall my hands being constantly stained with a rainbow of coloured ink. This was in days before computer graphics turned the graphic art industry on it’s head. 

In those days, Pantone markers were the Cadillac of markers, but many art students couldn’t afford them, so we made do with cheaper brands. My marker renderings were always in jeopardy of the dreaded Murphy’s Law marker failure. It was a crap shoot if you would complete your drawing before the ink ran out. Ahhhhhh!

I recently purchased the custom KolorMarc marker and texture pack available for Procreate, and I will never again feel the stress of a marker drying up when you need it most. The various marker tips in the set provide more choice than I could have ever afforded in the past. Thanks to some very clever people, they look and act like real markers. The bleed or textured chisel options are magical. 

Combine these new digital markers with the power of Procreate and you’re off to the races. 

Give the KolorMarc pack a try.

That’s all for today dear reader-artsy person you. Have a creative day.

Nudge

If Sheldon Designed The Perfect Grilled Cheese On Toast

 

As a fan of Big Bang Theory, isn’t only right that I make an homage to my favourite character Sheldon. I made a rather large chalkboard out of an old sofa sized picture frame. Then I filled it with some fun equations, including very scientific ones, simple math and other examples of equated brilliance. The top middle one is an equation for the perfect grilled cheese, while the bottom right is the answer to the ultimate question.

Fun with chalk!

Image Discovery and Development

Image Discovery and Development

I’m in constant wonder of how artists come up with ideas for drawings, painting, etc. It’s that constant mythical blank page syndrome that many artists face with great trepidation. Even at age 55, I suffer frequently from it. Then even if I do get an idea, I’m faced with being way to critical of myself, the dreaded imposter syndrome. Of course not all my ideas suck.

About eight years ago my wife and I built a lovely garage sized building in our backyard to use as an art studio. I love this beautiful blue building and all it’s windows. I’ve thought of doing a painting of the studio many times, but my critical mind has always pushed those thoughts away, until one early morning in late summer I noticed that the full moon was still shining brightly in the bluing western sky. As I walked toward the studio my angle of sight positioned the moon directly above the studio. Walking closer still, the moon comically came very close to touching the nose of our weather vane dog. I took the above photo, but I still didn’t have an idea.

As part of my recent cancer surgery and recovery, I’ve been doing a lot of research of rabbit holes online. In one of the extensive investigations I discovered that I have an interest in linocut printing. I bought some linocut tools a while ago, but almost forgot that I had them; but what to carve for the print block. Then I remembered I had taken the picture above. Thus began the process of redrawing the image into a design I could transfer, carve and print well.

Digitally recreate the photo in to a purely black and white image.

My idea for the final linocut coloured print.

There’s a lot I need to learn still but I will record my efforts on this project, good or bad and post updates as I go along. One clean framable print is the ultimate goal. I love this dog and moon image so much I’ve already titled it as “Poochaluna”, as in dog and moon. I’m so deep.

Delivered From Evil

 I so badly want to put this struggle with cancer behind me and not let it define me. The first half of 2021 had me return to work and make a concerted effort to have a semi-normal life, but we know how that turned out. 

So again, I’m looking forward to a time when cancer is not my main focus. Just two weeks after surgery and we are still waiting for the pathology report. Did they get it all out? The weight of that question is sometimes a little too much to bear at the moment. 

I secretly want to feel like the tough guy movie star who doesn’t look back when the massive explosion goes off behind them. They are victorious, and cool. I want that feeling. I want to feel like I’m free of my chaotic past and that I have been Delivered From Evil. 

That’s how obsessions start; Delivered From Evil (DfE) is now my umbrella working title for some personal creative projects. Starting with a bit of logo art. Why not?

Just a little Nudge

His name is Nudge, just like me. 

He’s my own creation of myself as a childhood cartoon character. I will be using him to write and illustrate stories from my youth (as I remember them). 

However, I love this image so much I just couldn’t wait and had to see him memorialized as a t-shirt.

I’m thrilled with how it turned out and all the fun I’ll have with him. 

More to come.

Out of this world

My latest collaboration with the infamous rock-reggae band Lucifari, was simply out of this world. 

The above space scene is for my good friend Michael Atkinson and his crew of musicians. Their upcoming release Leave Me On The Moon builds on their first release Anarchology. I had a great time producing additional designs for web promotion, logo treatments and graphics for apparel. 

My dream of designing art that ties into music has come true through my friendship with Michael (aka Twenty6Hundred and Lucifari). To have someone believe in me and encourage me to be fearless with my art has been personally, deeply rewarding. I feel like I’ve found the door to my true self. 

As a kid I often dreamt of designing guitars, stages, costumes, logos, t-shirts you name it. KISS had a massive influence on me. Now, in a very small, underground way I’m getting a taste of that dream now.