So a quick story:

I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Digital Entertainment and Game Design back in 2007. At the time I had a slightly dated but still somewhat relevant portfolio for game art and some scripting & design. Games don't age well and those portfolio pieces are dated if not difficult to find a copy of the game that'll actually let you run the sample mod/levels/quests/etc.

I've tried to link up with a colleague from work that is working on a mobile game app. Offered to do art for their app (they're great programmers and want something more than programmer art.)to brush up on my skills and update my now stale portfolio. Well, it's week 3 and I still have a hard time making myself draw concepts and create art assets. My mind blanks out whenever I try. I really need to find a way to 'force' myself to create on demand, not whenever I feel like it.

Any advice?

P.S. That is why I never did commissions.

Update Their dog didn't make it. :( Feel free to still bid on the iPad.


Shameless plug for a very dear friend trying to raise money to pay for their dog's vet bills.

If anyone out there is a big Blizzard fan this person got their iPad autographed by most of the lead/executive team at BlizzCon 2010. The iPad is 32GB 3G with all the protective screens and see-through case(so you can see the signatures!) included.

Help my friend out and post this on your journal if you can. This bird would appreciate the gesture.


Auction description follows


Signed autographed 32gb 3g iPad

Link: http://cgi.ebay.ca/Signed-autographed-32gb-3g-iPad-World-warcraft-/140550649217?pt=US_Tablets&hash=item20b978b581#ht_500wt_1156

A must have bit of memorabilia for the Blizzard fan!

One of a kind iPad autographed by pivotal Blizzard employees. We're talking lead designers and art directors; the people calling the shots on World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and Diablo 3.

All of the signatures are 100% authentic and were obtained at BlizzCon 2010 in Anaheim, California.

Some of the names include Chris Metzen, Samwise, and Greg Street (also known as Ghostcrawler).

The iPad is less then a year old and was purchased shortly before BlizzCon 2010. I parting with this one of a kind collector's iPad to pay for my dog's unexpected veternian bills. The iPad itself is in good condition with only a small scratch on the screen; not noticeable or feelable with a screen protector. It has no deadspots and the autographs are protected by a hard shell clear case (not pictured) that is included with the winning bid.

There is some smudging on two of the autographs done at the time by the hand of another person autographing the iPad. All of the big names are intact.

The iPad will ship with the ORIGINAL box, charging cable, and charging brick.

I can send more pictures via email if requested!

Any questions about the product can be sent my way.


End Auction description

Red bird here perching at a local event near you!

05-14-2011 Prancing Skiltaire
05-21-2011 FurBQ (Orange, CA)
06-03 to 06-05-2011 CaliFur
06-07 to 06-09-2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo, E3!!!!!!!!1111oneoneone

Not sure about AnthroCon. Going to see how hard I can push for requesting days off in a single month at work. :(

If you're going to be at any of those events let this bird know so we can /wingwave or something!

Made this quick animation to test out the new animation app I bought for my iPad. Promising...

Somedays it feels like I'm carrying the capabilities of a small art studio with me with all the apps I've accumulated.

Bird squak

https://youtu.be/fLWEkZOhXH8

Rough WIP - Bird preen

https://youtu.be/40TISZHxjis

BWHAHAHA!

I think I just got one of the last Blu figurines (only seen them sold at Toys R Us) in the greater Orange County/Western Los Angeles county area.

Blue birdy is all mine! @.@

A real shame then, that the Rio plushes are so poorly made. They used felt instead of fur for fluffy birdy goodness. It just 'felt' wrong. (See what I did there?).

Got my Rio Mc Donalds toy for Blu and Pedro. Gonna try to get Jewel, Rafael and maybe NICO.

Going to go watch it this Friday then hit up the nearest Toys R Us and go bird it up to see if they have anything worth getting.

SQUEEE!

Gotta go watch Rio. It will be out in 2 weeks and features brightly feathered birdies!

Any avians in the Orange County/Irvine area organizing something to go see it after work?

http://www.rio-themovie.com/

(FAILED) Quest: A dozen delicious cupcakes!

Last day to redeem my Groupon and the place in Pasadena is shuttered/out of business. Next nearest stores in Beverly Hills or Irvine. With gas $4/gal, not gonna bother driving there. >.>

Saw a very nice alabaster owl for sale at a kiosk. The one on display is the only one that they have and it's been out in the weather for a bit.

Had zero luck running around and searching online for anything close to resembling it these past days. I'm going back to buy it tomorrow or this Friday. Comes with a nice mirror/wood display base too.

[Edit] I gotz it! Went to Downtown Disney and bought it. Mine! ^______^

Yay for more anthro animals.

A snowboarding leopard, a figure-skating bunny and a polar bear wearing a scarf will be the three mascots for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/bl.....ots-for-the-20

My favorite part of the article

The Associated Press says the final mascot looks "dorky." Whether that's true or not (and it totally is), the creator of Russia's last Olympic mascot says it's plagiarism. Viktor Chizhikov, the man who designed the mascot to the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, believes this bear is a direct copy of his.

"This polar bear, everything is taken from mine, the eyes, nose, mouth, smile," he told a Moscow radio station. "I don't like being robbed."

Yes, both bears have eyes, noses, mouths and smiles, as do all cartoon bears. There's only so many ways to draw an anthropomorphic cartoon bear. You don't see Winnie the Pooh with snarling fangs, you know?

....

Mascots exist for merchandising and it's easy to image a child snuggling up with a Sochi polar bear or playing a video game with the snowboarding lion. Sochi's choices aren't groundbreaking but they're not awful and they'll serve the purpose for which they were created. And, best of all, they won't terrify children like these guys.

I went to 'work' today & went on a team outing to Disneyland.

Upgraded to an annual pass with park hopping privileges for California Adventures.

If anyone happens to be in the area and wanna go hang out there on a non-blackout day (check with me first!) feel free to note me here. =D

Ok, saw inception for the first time just now. (Thank you iTunes sale, $9.99.) That's a pretty good movie. Managed to keep throwing layers on top of layers without leaving the audience lost/confused.

It's uncanny how my dreams already have certain elements of that. For example, I never really get nightmares. Haven't been having nightmares since midway through college. When the nightmares are no longer amusing or find fun I summon guardians to dispatch it.

This one time I dremt I was being chased through an abondoned warehouse/factory by the girl from the ring. When I got tired of running I realized I was dreaming and a gun that fires metal stakes from FEAR materialized into my hand. The rest of the 'nightmare' was spent chasing them down instead. o.o

If anyone will be going to the PS tomorrow I will be wearing my brand new custom bird shirt with picture of a cute fluffy phoenix I drew. \o/

Loving my new birdy mug with my mug so I can be drinking out of my mug while admiring my mug.

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/5225514

Also made a bunch of custom magnets and keychains with my designs. Turns out I've accumulated quite a bit of usable art over the years. It has gotten me thinking if I should try to run it as a side business but heard horror stories from friends about art theft and fly-by-night websites that steal your designs and sell them without credit.

Going to try making more custom stuff for fun and self-use to experiment further. I have been extremely happy with how well my designs turned out. It's one thing to oggle at pretty pictures that I've made. It's another to be holding it in my hands.

Just got back home from Vegas. Aside from a company sponsored party I don't drink much (except on rare occasions), I don't gamble, and the shows while nice cost a wing and a leg. Paid $150 to watch the Blue Man Group. Loved it, but $$$!

That leaves me with fine dinning. With resort prices that is only fun for a little bit before it gets pricey and feel like you're eating $20 bills directly from your wallet instead.

This bird is going to be staying put for a while after this trip. Until June that is with CaliFur, E3, (maybe) AnthroCon.

Sorry if bird caused any concern with his last posting. I actually was only tipsy for half the trip and sobered up before going to a double hotel room all to myself!

Eighteenth floor with a view of the back of the Las Vegas strip. The wrap party starts at 10pm and I have to figure out what to do for dinner. The buffet at the Palms is $25/person. O.o I don't plan on gambling much so guess they'll make their profit off bird in other ways.

I'm on a bus to mycompany's wrap party in Las Vegas and I am drunk out of my mind on the bus. Had a beer, five plus gin with Sprite. Wheee, I am a happy camper and bird and I'm only en route!

So soon after Further Confusion too. Company is paying for a room (all to myself!) and renting out an entire club for a party at Las Vegas for one of the nights. Got two drink tickets....sadly no significant other to share this with. :(

Did I mention that I get vacation pay for both days? Paid to go on vacation.... O.o

Excited bird is very excited at the moment.

This is a goodbye and wish you a safe drive, flight, train ride, horseback ride back home from FC 2011.

This FC I actually did very little paneling and spent lots more time with really awesome cool creative furries. I am missing all of you like Netolu, Arc, Kadin, Ceagle, to name a few already.

Looking forward to seeing all of you and more, specially to new peeps I met at the Creator's Lounge.

Ironically, I'm writing this from The Britt pub at the San Jose airport and had more drinks already than through the entire con. A Bloody Mary and Long Island is keeping me company before my flight. It's actually cheaper and better than the Fairmont's crappy prices and bartenders.

Before I go, a funny story that will fit right into a furry convention.
http://gizmodo.com/5734552/hunter-b.....x-shoots-a-man

Give this bird a holler by email or note here if you're here too!

I bought a Copic marker wallet so I can have marker artz at FC. The wallet can hold 24. I have 86...

Gotta choose which to bring with me. It's like playing favorites with my colors! What to choose, what to choose! >.<

See you next week! I'll be flapping around the open sketch/doodle areas. ^_^

If you want to meet up and I still don't have your contact info please note me.

There is a possibility that the person I am splitting the room with may not be able to make it,

Giving a heads up in case anyone is still looking for a place to stay in the main hotel for FC 2011. It's a double bed room and you get a bed. The split will be 50/50. The cost is a bit more but you won't be treated like sardines and get peace + quiet and not having to wait in a long line to use the restroom vs. rooms with 5+ people in it.

This is tentative but give this bird a note if you're interested. Or, if FA goes down again email me kithrak [at] charter.net

I'm going to be flying out to FC 2011 and wanted to bring my Copic or Prisma color markers with me. Problem is, I don't know if the air pressure changes will damage or ruin them. Those little buggers aren't cheap and don't know if it'd do that.

Anyone else with experience flying with art markers know if they're ok in carry on?

I'm going to go to FC2011 & plan on doing lots of drawing there. If you will be going and want to link up note me so we can hang out there. :D