I've been working on a lot of sketches lately. I've got this game I'm working on with some friends, we just had a meeting tonight to iron out some story details. I've done quite a few concepts on some characters for it. Even though I'm just the artist, I've written the most story for the game too. Hmmm. In addition to the characters, I designed one of the rooms where a cinematic sequence takes place, and also I've done a storyboard for that sequence which I definitely will post when it's completed.

The other day one of my teachers from a few terms ago asked me if I wanted to help some of his students with some artwork. So I talk to one of the guys and agreed to do it, stupidly, before knowing what I needed to do concepts for. Apparently they want some bio/mech characters done. Now, I really don't know why they chose me or what kind of art the teacher showed them. I've never drawn mechs before. So I've done some research over the last couple of days, looked at quite a bit mech art styles. Found some work called NYC Mech. Pretty cool stuff. So I've draw two bio/mechs now. I'm gonna have to ask them if they mind if I post them here. I'll post em if they say it's alright.

In other news, my job fucking sucks and is giving me 14 hours over what my availability says I can work. I really hate that company, and I hope my stores assistant manager dies a horribly painful death. Preferably involving rusty spoons, explosive iguanas, and an acid bath. The new manager of my department is even more lazy than the last, which I didn't really think was possible. Every time I pull into the parking lot I have to resist the urge to drive my car through the front entrance. I would rather be stuck in a roomful of rabid badgers than work there for even one more week. *sigh* To sum it up, I'm for hire.

I'm working on a new painting, the fire elemental to my last deviations water elemental. Looks sick as hell so far. It's a whole scene, I've been trying to practice painting more than just the figures. Doing a little more character design on the elemental too. I have about four pages of sketches I did one night of different ideas for elementals. I'm still rockin' those out too, 'cause I haven't concreted the earth or wind ones elementals. I have two sketches for earth I'm going to expand on, and the wind one I've got three really lame sketches.

I'm building the my sketch 'Samurai Girl' in my 3d modeling class right now. I'm almost done with the basic body, just need hands and feet for it now, and then to the tweaking to get the shapes right. By the end of next week I should be starting to texture it up.

On a music note, check out this song by Temple of the Dog. It's a killer blues style song. Cornell and the guitar player fuckin' rip it up.
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So I bought the new Alice in Chains album at midnight, and I've listened to it 4 times. Right off the bat, I wanna say that I think Jerry might be channeling the spirit of Dimebag Darrell. Some of the riffage is very Dime like. The main riff in Check My Brain and Last of My Kind are the songs that remind me of Dime. Last of My Kind has a pretty awesome chorus for Duvall too, he really belts it on that one, I was impressed. However, most of the time it seems like JC is singing (which doesn't bother me at all, his style is awesome). The guitar parts in Your Decision go back to JC's solo albums. When the Sun Rose Again has a really cool acoustic riff that drives the whole song, kind of a tribal feel to the song. I forgot to mention how catchy Check My Brain is, I've had it stuck in my head since I saw the video a week or so ago. The rest of the songs are either in classic AiC style, or just kind of... bland I guess. I like the album alot, was it AiC or Cantrells best work? Nah, I don't think so, but it's still awesome as fuck to hear new stuff outta Jerry. BUY THE ALBUM! I hope they keep putting out albums.

*edit* How could I forget the title track? Elton John played piano on it, and there's also a different mix with just piano. It's a really well written song. Gave me goose bumps actually.

Also, on the art side, I did do some painting last night while i was listening to it in addition to what i posted. I just started my 3d character design class, and i'm working on my first face model right now.

I've been on vacation since Friday, and it's been awesome as hell. Spending time with my wife and family, kicking back and relaxing. Ah, sweet time off...

I just bought two new albums, Megadeth's new one Endgame, and Shadows Fall new one Retribution. Haven't listened to SF yet, but I have taken a listen to the new Megadeth album. It... is... FUCKING AMAZING. It was like Dave went back to Rust In Peace and said to himself, "Where should I have taken this after this album?" It's heavy, fast, and melodic. Not like anything since RIP for sure, but not even like RIP. For starters, it's way heavier. The new lead guitarist equals Marty (doesn't surpass Marty's genius, but I may be biased ). I will have to take another listen though, I was busy while listening and I want to take a closer listen. But from what I heard, the guitar and overall songwriting seems to have taken the forefront, opposed to the last few 'Deth albums where the singing seemed to be the most produced aspect. I'm not sure what others are saying so far about it though, and I don't think I want to. Critics of music seem to think to higher of themselves than music so it'll probably be partly negative. Stupid critics. Oh, and for anyone who might still be wondering who won (Metallica or Megadeth), it's Megadeth's win. Although, just for the record I've always thought that since I heard my first Megadeth tune.

Pretty much just posting a preview (below) of the new painting I'm working on. Man, the cintiq is just badassness!