Akiko’s dead blog - 1618-v1

This turned out to be a huge event! I can’t believe the amount of people that showed up. It was exciting to be a part of it. I finally got to see works from all the other studios in the building. It’s been a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun and all worth it!

Sam Hyde Harris is one of my favorite plein air painter, and I am very excited to go see his show at the Pasadena Museum of History. One room is dedicated to his commercial work, and the other, his plein air paintings. I didn’t know he had done so much commercial work till this exhibit. I really like all his work and went there twice already to do studies.

What I like about his paintings are that he is really good at subtle colors with temperature differences seen on foggy days or cloudy days. I find it really hard to paint light gray colors without being chalky. He paints really beautiful muddy colors - if you know what I mean.

we walked out of the museum to a hazy day, and I saw all his colors out there.

info at: Who Was Sam? The Art of Sam Hyde Harris (1889-1977)

All your favorite characters were on display at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. These are the real deal. More convincing than CG. Look at Yoda. Look at Mighty Joe Young.

Great concept art and illustation were also on display at the Lobby gallery.

The exhibit is over, but you can still get the info at
Academy site

I drive by it all the time. But finally took the tour inside this mansion. The interior is pretty gorgeous. I liked the kitchen with early 1900’s gadgets. There are tonns of paintings as well. Some really nice CA plein air paintings and portraits. On the premesise is also a Finnish Folk Art Museum.

We started the day by joining the annual KA breakfast - with the members of the fanzine we write to. It is always fun to meet the actual people behind the contributions.

I bumped into some friends, got more sketch books, got a really useful feedbacks, and attended some panels.
I noticed that there weren’t too many over the top costumes this year, and way too many baby carts with no baby in it.

aside from the Comic con, I noticed a tall ship at the harbor. I have a thing for tallships. I even spent several month on one as a crew member. Anyway, here are some beautiful silouttes with the sun right behind them.

On the way home, taking route 15 through the desert, we encountered wild lightening and showers. It was surreal driving in to the thunder clouds.

We got home to be greeted by one upset cat, who made it clear to us he wasn’t happy to be left alone by pooping on the floor by Duncan’s drawing table. We spent the rest of the night going through the goods.

Another Comic Con gone by, and now it’s time to get back into the grind. Next year, I plan to be more prepared.

We’ve been going to the Con every year since 2000 when we moved out to LA. And we’ve seen it grow every year. To be honest, we were a little reluctant to go because we knew it’s going to be crazy and frustrating to get to the booths. But how in the right mind can you miss this event??!!

Because of the limited time we had there, we prioritized the artists alley, small press, and artists table section instead of covering the entire floor from hall A to Z. I mean G. Duncan got original comic pages, I got some sketchbooks and eurpean comics and artbooks.

I went to the screening of Labyrinth followed by a panel at the Motion Pictire academy. Brian and Wendy Froud, Toby, Brian Henson and other puppetters where there to talk about the film and behind the scenes. I even got to talk to Brian Froud and got a little sketch from him.

after the show, we went to see the special effects gallery upstairs where the actual puppets, models, and props where on display. I have to go there again because they were closing. Members from Dark Crystal, Aslan, Yoda were among the few who were there. Really cool.

Went on a LA conservancy tour of the Broadway theater row. Back in the 1920’s and 30’s, there were more than 20 gorgeous theaters lining up Broadway. Starting at the Million dollar theater, each has it’s own theme in design. It was dark inside, and the only photo that came out legible is this on. Just being in there takes you back in time .

Million Dollar theater entrance seen right across from the Bradbury Building.

Some of the theaters are gone, some still exists behind the electronic storefronts, and some are are stores with the interior intact. It is a weird mix.

lesson #1 : don’t wait till the day before the show closes to see something you really need to see. The line went around the building and back for this and when finally inside, it was soooo crowded that it is hardly a condition to be appreciating art.
But I did get to see the real deal. The gold “Adele” painting was striking. What I like most about this painting is her hands. As I study the pattrens, I hear a kid say ” it’s like a bunch of eye balls. I can do that”. I felt like smacking the kid. “Beech Woods” might be my favorite. The crowd was the smallest in front of this peice, so I was soaking it all up at will. Then an old guy pulled me out of the trance as he yelled ” you have to step back to appreciate this painting. You can’t see anything up close!”.

-_-**

“There are many ways to “see” a painting”. I almost yelled back but didn’t. The irritaion of the crowd seemed insignificant when you’re in front of 5 great work of art.

Several panels of storyboards are on display till end of July. Speedy Gonzalis, Tazmanian devil, Alvin to name a few. I saw 4 frames of Flinstones as well. The very effective line of action on the bugs was really nice. The whole book on Ren and Stimpy was amazing. The drawings are so energetic and gesturalized. the binder on display had the “fire dogs” episode. I learned a lot just by looking at these boards - the way the dog chief comes out of the fire department door, the vertigo scene, the big lady rescue, expressions. Gosh, I’ve never seen the actual cartoon, but I have a feeling that I would enjoy these boards more than the finished version. This is a great exhibit.