Seminar Wrap-Up

Well, the Mike Lin Graphics Seminar is over. It finished up yesterday, and I'm headed home today. It's been a long 12 days. I've got mixed feelings about it.

On one hand, I've really improved my graphics. I've got more confidence in my ability, and enthusiasm for continuing practice. I've learned to produce quick perspectives, which are a powerful tool for selling my ideas.

On the other hand, Mike Lin appears to be burnt out on teaching the class. He's been doing it several times a year for 20+ years, and is in a rut. He also seems bored with the material, so spends a lot of time talking about things not related to graphics, including things he has no experience. It seemed like he was simply running his mouth. He's also bigoted, sexist, and very proud of how much money he has. Tells very poor jokes, but has no grasp of irony or dry humor.
The class typically went from 8:30 am to midnight, with an hour for lunch and 2 hours for dinner. If he kept to the graphics material, and didn't waste time on other crap, we could have wrapped things up by 8 or 10 easily.

Would I recommend this class to others? Probably, but with strong cautions about his teaching style. Did I get what I wanted? I think so, but the emotional price was higher than I expected.

Here's the plan. All told, about 8 hours between the two, develpoing the plan, working out the perspective, and rendering both. I've come a long way since I started.... 

Here's a couple more samples. I call the statue "Monument to the Shopping Woman". 

Here's a sample of my work from the Mike Lin seminar I'm attending. It's a quick (2 hours) 2-point perspective & rendering. Not great, but a huge improvement from where I started.... 

My brother Tim and nephew David at the Joe Martin race 

The PPZJ in front of Morningside, Dad & Martha's house in NC 

Latest Updates...

Sorry it's been so long since the last update. The last week has been pretty hectic. I spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in Fayetteville. I watched my brother race in the Joe Martin (http://www.joemartinstagerace.com/)bike race Saturday and Sunday, then headed up to Manhattan, KS Sunday afternoon. About 6+ hours, 370 miles or so. A pretty good ride on the bike, all in all.

I'm in Manhattan for the next week or so, attending the Mike Lin Graphics seminar - see http://www.beloose.com/ - it's a seminar focusing on hand rendering techniques, mostly colored pencil and marker, but also things like watercolor, pastels, pen & ink, etc.

It's kicking my ass so far, and I'm only in my second day. We typically go from 8:30 am to midnight, with breaks for lunch and dinner. Uggggh. Still, I'm learning lots, and this should strengthen a weakness of mine. Now if I can only survive....

Don't take it personally, but I barely have time to think, so finding time for communication with the outside world can be a bit difficult...

I'll try to get work samples up at some point.

Take care.

B

Highlands

I made it to Highlands in one piece. Let me tell you, the twisties aren't nearly as much fun with 3000 lbs of trailer pushing you around. The PPZJ has plenty of motor for the hills, but the brakes could use some help. They were smoking a bit when I stopped, after coming down the hill to my dad's place. (Note to self; slown down in the curvy bits....)

It's nice to relax here at morningside, the house that dad and Martha have built. There's still some finishing touches to be done, but it's a great place to spend a few days. Last night we had dinner on the deck looking out through the trees...

Thanks for all of your well-wishes. Having friends like ya'll makes this that much easier.

Traveling On

Thanks to a lot of hard work from Gary & Johnise, we got me packed up. The 5' x 10' x 10' high storage unit was packed to the gills, the PPZJ (grand cherokee) and trailer were fully loaded, and Gary took some stuff back to his basement. It was kinda scary seeing both how little and how much stuff I have.

Claudia & I cleaned up the apartment a bit, and I hit the road yesterday. I drove down to Raleigh, NC, and spent the night with Virginia and Terry Conlon, who is fostering QT for the next year. I think she'll do just fine. They seem to like her, and she seems fairly comfortable in the house. Their cat, Einstien, is less happy - I haven't seen anything of him since QT moved in..... I'm confident that they'll work things out, though.

Today I'm headed over to Highlands. Should be 6 hours or so I'm guessing.

Ya'll take care.

PS - feel free to make comments, and leave feedback. It'd be nice to know that people are reading this stuff.....

Last day of work...

.. has come. I won't really miss the place or the work, but I'll miss the relationships I had with the people. I've got a bit of stuff I'm working on finishing up.

I'm also focusing on what I need to get done tonight. I've got a couple friends coming over tomorrow morning to help me put my stuff in storage. Sunday I'll get my truck and trailer packed, and the journey begins - I'll head down to Raleigh.

Exciting, and scary at the same time.

I located a row on the front & back of the trailer, one on each side, and one in the middle. 

1 of 6 tie-down points. I used a 3" holesaw to cut into the 3/4" plywood floor, liquid nails, and 1/4" lag bolts. *Hopefully* it will hold... 

Should be big enough for the Bandit and NX250. If not, I'm screwed.... 

I bought a used trailer yesterday to haul the bikes with me. Like new 5'x8' Haulmark Cub Trailer.