ART CAMP 2012!

       Before I get started, let me say, right out here in the open, that this post is admittedly about six weeks late. I wanted to get this on record the week I returned to sunny Chicagoland, but things happen to happen the way they happen, and sometimes that means all at once, in an unrelenting spiral of chaos and productivity. But that isn't always a bad thing!

       To Art Camp! This was the fourth year of camp and the group, while ever-changing, stayed mostly the same. The age range of the group has expanded further each year, with our youngest being seven, and this year the oldest was fourteen.

        We managed to all work well together, and the kids turned out some amazing work. The return of fiber arts and hand-sewn felt craft is evident here, with Drew looking TERRIFYING in his fox mask.

       One of the new mediums explored this year was animation. Here you can see Jackson hard at work in the animation corner, which we jokingly dubbed 'Pixar Jr.'

       On the last day, we invited parents to come see what we had been up to all week, and each of the campers had a table of their own to showcase their thirty-plus hours of work finished in the five days we met. Aidin had a lot to show, even though it seemed like that cupcake pillow might take the whole week to finish!

        It's worth mentioning that the real Pixar movie, Brave, opened a few days before we started our week, and so, showed up in some of the projects, most notably the family tapestry that Aidin recreated.

       All of that embroidery, those poor little fingers! And on the back?

         CUPCAKE!!!

       Eliot had a lot of fun sewing, painting and drawing, and helped maintain the 'geek-cred' we established in previous years by making Minecraft themed pillows.

       Payton and Julia, hard, hard at work. Sometimes you have to tear them away and remind them that they are children, and should enjoy life! (joke)

       Payton's body of work, complete with hand sewn puppet.

       Drew's table, thick with illustrative work - nice mixed media, too!

       Riddhi and her little brother Dhruv displayed together, initially, then had to use two tables when they realized how many pieces they had completed.

       Riddhi started to make a chicken plush, and ended up making three left-facing chickens (the feathers all on the same side), before she was able to focus and make an opposing side, to complete the stuffed bird.

       The extra lefties weren't a complete wash, though! She ended up with a beautifully embellished chicken pillow.

       Dhruv kept the video game theme alive in his awesomely retro Pac Man pillow.

       Macy worked hard all week honing her different interests like sewing, working toward a better grasp on drawing people with proper proportions, and wet-media. On day four, though, she found her calling...

       MARSHMALLOWS! So cute. Good job, Macy.

       It was a great week, and I was lucky and happy to spend it with such talented, focused kids. Great work, everyone! See you next summer. Until then, bask in the glory of the complete Art Camp 2012 Animation Collection: Volume 1! 

Doll-a, Doll-a Billz Y'all

It's been a few weeks since I was able to post any new work, so I thought I would take this opportunity (so many opportunites reveal themselves at 2 am) to catch you up on what has been happening in the Arts du Rumback. Sorry, that's supposed to be a French joke, but I have no French to speak of.

In March I took an e-mail through etsy inquiring about my policy on international shipping and the time-frame needed to complete a set of nesting dolls. It was from a lovely and complimentary Glasgaunder (new word!) named Katie. She was engaged to a handsom fellow named Nico (both pictured here through the cartoon-filter), who had proposed to her with a set of nesting dolls. Let's all say it together: Awwwwww!

She thought it only appropriate, and I must say, I agreed, that their wedding cake topper avatars be in the same form, in the style of Russian nesting dolls of olde. As it turns out (here I thumb snap my suspenders and smile a saucy grin), I'm the closest thing to a Russian craftsman between Glasgau and Chicago! I was happy to take the job, and made my best set yet.

The dads! I was absolutely charmed by the e-mail exchanges between Katie and I, and loved her guidance offered on the cothing. "Dad ALWAYS wears a navy round-neck jumper, pale blue collared shirt and blue jeans... That's when he's not in his cycling kit!" I had to lean on my Harry Potter lingo a bit t decipher things like jumper (pull-over sweater) and trainers (sneaks, kicks). I had to google her future-father-in-law's outfit detail though, as I had never heard suspenders reffered to as braces.

She asked for two extra 'second' dolls to give to her bridesmaids, her sister and a friend. Notice the yellow wellies with navy shorts on the sis - these were very precisely noted details.

Incidently, sis got to be painted twice - once in the complete set, and once in the add-on brdesmaid gift. Here are the mums and the sister. Look closely at the edge of each mum and you'll be able to guess how I fit seven family members on five dolls.

That's right, double-sided parents! That sounds like a sixties horror movie that never was. Yes, by the power of illustrative representation (and a lack of space) each of the parent pairs are represented back-to-back. I was pleased with the outcome, and thought it a fun and functional detail, as so many of the back-sides of these dolls are just butts and wasted space.

Here they are,one big happy family, soon to be joined by marraige and bound for life! Good luck, Katie and Nico! Many happy years await you.

And here... Carnage!

The next job on the list was this trio of peg people, ordered bythe magic of IRL (off-line) social networking! My friend Joel has a friend named Doug who I only knew through Twitter (okay, a little online). Doug and I met after years of digital acquaintance at C2E2, in April. Doug took my card, and gave it to Dustin (the bespecticaled fellow pictured here), who e-mailed me (okay, fine, the internet is an integral part of our everyday blah, blah, blah), and asked after peg people for a birthday gift.

Here they are! Actually, there they are, my postal tracking app tells me they've safely made it to Kansas, and are on the verge of being delivered. Look at that kitty! Too cute!

Then! (Garth Algar style) Then, I was finishing those guys up at naptime at preschool, and one of the parents saw them on a shelf and asked after them. These very hip and cool pegs you see here are the product of a LONG stint at my desk Friday. I finished them up bringht and early Saturday, and they were out the door, on their way to the doll-i-fied couple. He is a DJ and she a Photographer, so the client asked if I could come up with something dirivitive of their interests in lieu of a pet or family member. Boom! Crate of records and camera gear. Done, and done.

There! Three deadlines met, and two more to get started on. As always, e-mail me with any inquiries. I keep busy, but there is almost always room for one more!

 

The Fourth Will Be With You, Always.

Hey nerds, it's STAR WARS DAY! Put on your metal bikini's and fire up those DVD players!

Tangent: I do not own any part of the trilogy on Blu-ray; I only watch the episodes released before my pubescence, and only watch the original theatrical cuts, which are only available on DVD. End tangent.

I'm coming off as hypocritical, I fear, by whooping it up over here - my TV is off and cool to the touch. I do think this warrants getting a copy of Star Wars Kinect and hanging out at Josh's house whether he likes it or not. I'm a PS3 man, myself, and the only game I have is The Force Unleashed II, which isn't very high on the re-play-ability list. Oh, wait! I DO have the original soundtrack on vinyl! Vintage-hipster-nerd-party!

I'm off point. I wanted to post really quick and do a Star Wars Day sale, right here on the old blog. I have a handful of Star Wars themed artworks and prints available, and thought it may be a good idea to offer a discount, in respect of the holiday.

Here are the deals, and we'll leave Etsy out of this one. The prints come matted and bagged, ready to drop into a frame. The original artwork is shipped in frame, as you see it.

Just comment on this post to make a purchase, or e-mail me at benrum@gmail.com.

Gangsta' (11x14 matted print) $18 *regularly $30*

Force Feeding (11x14 matted print) $18 *regularly $30*

Galactic Bromance (11x14 matted print) $18 *regularly $30*

Just Like Dear Old Dad (11x14 matted print) $18 *regularly $30*

Watcher (8x10 matted print) $13 *regularly $20*

Droid Season (original ink and watercolor painting, framed) $95 *regularly $130*

Snow Wars (original gouache painting, framed) $100 *regularly $135*

Multiple prints are available, but the originals are, obviously, one of a kind. $4 shipping on prints, $8 on framed original artwork.

Thanks for reading, and may the force be with you!

Weekend Business

       Hoo, boy, whoa, wow, what a busy couple of months! As you know, good reader, I partook in my first Artist's Alley this year at C2E2 (Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo), and boy are my fingers tired! There was a set up to a joke there, but I seem to have missed it entirely. C2E2! It was great! I met a ton of awesome people, got to shake hands and actually TALK with the legendary Tim Sale (my favorite Batman artist), Adam Hughes (artist of beautiful women and other things), and a few others. I was seated next to my (dare I say) new friends from Yeti Press, a local comic publishing house, and had one to four of my very best friends at my side, helping with my table, at any given time, each of the three days. This post will whisk you away to the magical (and, at times, grueling) weekend experience!

         There it is! That's me! That's my table! That eight foot slab sums up many sleepless nights and long saturdays of my past months. The 'con' was awesome, though, and totally worth the investment of time and dollars. I made up my table mid-day on day two, and from there, started working toward a profit. It's not all about the money, but let us be honest... the money helps. I am very proud of my signs. If you can't make it out, it says "Ben, There! Pop Nostalgia," which is the name I adopted at Renegade many moons ago. The cursive looks a lot better in person, and at two-or-so in the morning.

        Let's start things off with Gandalf the Grey. He is found at the start of stories far greater than mine, but since he is here, I'll use him! He was one of my first costumed visitors, and his staff, of course, glowed mightily.

       Okay, let me say, when I made a little sign for $5 micro paintings to be painted on the scraps and off-cuts of prints, I didn't know what I was getting into. 'I'll do ten or fifteen,' though I, 'It will be a nice time-burner during the low hours of inactivity at C2,' said the fool. Man-o-man, was I wrong! These little buggers became the focus of my weekend! Let me assure you, I'm not complaining; Five bucks is five bucks, but these con-goers love some cheap original art!

       One of the first (of many, maybe ten) Harry Potters I painted.

       Cos-play break! This kid was great, and polite, and well 'stumed, as Chell from Portal and Portal 2, some of my best hours spent at the ol' Playstation.

       My darling Martha came and helped out on day one (Friday) and is seen here adorning one of the many, many (fantastic) mustaches handed out by Yeti Press. "Free mustaches!" It still haunts my waking nightmarish recollections... *shudder*

        ADVENTURE TIME!

       Star Track! (I kid, I kid) Martha was thrilled by these two - she has a secret geekery in the New Generation line.

       These were two of the better Scott and Ramona's, of which there were many. Girls seem to love this costume because it involves dressing cute and sometimes... Goggles.

        One of the better Doctors. Okay, fine, I'll type it... JOSH WAS RIGHT. There, Josh, you win, in capitol letters and underlined. He told me through and through that I should be making Dr. Who merch... apparently this 'Tardis' thing is catching.

         Best Batman, hands down.

         SNAAAAAAAAKE! If you don't get it, congratulations, you have a life outside of video-games.

        Of all the Jokers and Harleys, the ones with a giant mallet stole my heart, this one in particular.

       When Arkham Asylum Scarecrow showed up (and was a cute girl, bonus!), I had a total geek out.

       Let it be said that my good friend John did more for my booth than maybe anyone, self included, by standing around in his movie-accurate Wolverine costume. He switched midday into Logan, which just drove the point home... with more hyper-detailed accuracy to the movies. Thanks, John!

       HORRIBLE!

       As much as i loooooathe Episode I, no one can deny the absolute wickedness of Darth Maul, the great underused villain in science fiction. His costume and make-up blew me away.

        TARDIS MAN! Damn, I really should have done some Dr. Who art that wasn't a micro painting... boo.

         I deeply appreciate this one - half Batman: The Animated Series, half Arkham City... All great!

         I was fortunate enough to meet Walter 'Dot Com' Slattery (Kevin Brown) after hours on day two. He was seemingly delighted to grace me a photo, after a long day, off the clock, and acted like I was doing HIM a favor. What a nice guy.

       Father/son (daughter?) duo, blowing me away with their amazing costumes. So good, even up close. Note the glowing Jawa eyes: so cool.

        Inspired by the tiny Chell above, I did some Portal/Aperture Science micro-paintings.

        After everything, my favo-costume goes to Beaker, on kid's day (Sunday). If I wasn't so damned honorable, I'd steal this for hallowe'en.

       Big, big thanks to everyone who met me, liked my art, and tossed a dollar my way this weekend. You people built me up more than I deserve, and I am deeply, hugely flattered, and astonished, at every sale I make.

       If you came here looking for something I had on display and it isn't listed in my shop, please do e-mail me at benrum@gmail.com. Most work featured is still available.

'Just Like Dear Old Dad'

Howdy y'all! How's the day of foolishness and fibbery treating you? I am yet to be pranked, but remaining vigilant. I finished up another new painting this week and though I would share the process with you. Here it is - same subject as my last - STAR WARS! I love drawing R2-D2, he's so cute.

The sketch above was quickly copied onto a prepared grey background, and I used white transfer paper to get the job done. Love that stuff!

I didn't take many process photos, so here is a short trip to nearly finished.

...Aaand DONE! Please excuse the copyrights - if you buy the original or a print, it will be 'c' free, obviously. Glee! Less than two weeks to C2E2, so it's back to my desk with me!