
Not altogether Christmassy, but shopping is near enough. This is Tangel' in a rather early conception, with the flower in her hair and forelock rather than the parted style she favours today. She would have been in Willow Run long enough by the time I drew this to be settled in as a guest of Saara & me at Homefall (a big old house on the edge of town). She's got her first job and is splurging on presents for her friends. You can see she's got a model kit of the Russian space shuttle, Buran, for me. Also a Scottish kilt in the tartan of clan MacDonald. What she got Saara I'm not sure -- it's boxed up. Tangel's dropped a slot car -- the AVS Shadow -- which must be for me too. Saara is too grown up to play with toy cars. She prefers toy airplanes. And the Kahlua? We all three love that!
In the window of the toy store behind Tangel' are a lot of fun references to all sorts of things that were favourites of mine. Note the Usagi Yojimbo figure, the Albedo RPG, the Lum doll, the rocket ship from one Tin Tin adventure, a cap pistol supposedly "Dixie's", a toy jeep with Captain Haddock & Tin Tin driving, and a streamlined Art Deco era steam engine.
The book store Tangel' has already walked by shows a number of titles that can't be read in this image. However, at far right is a copy of Fan Loon's Lives (a fake book I did the covers for and wrapped around a copy of a vintage book of similar title). Next is the third novel by a friend of mine, "Gypsies". Then the corner of "The Flying Visit" by a British writer named Peter Fleming (it was written before WWII got really grim, and tells about Hitler parachuting into Britain t find out what the English really thought about him). Next I think is a book of Krazy Kat strips, or about Krazy Kat. Only the "KR" shows, so I'm guessing myself. Then a collection of George Barr art (a real small press edition). My initials TW are on the next book, suggesting its something I imagined writing. "Adam of the Road" by Elizabeth Gray next, a wonderful novel about a 13th. century boy and his troubador father. A book called "Calem Catleb's America", a strange piece of crap that Robert Heinlein says inspired him to write. The final book is impossible to guess. I only see an "N". I'm guessing its a book about New York.
Why? The book store is run by one M. Feder, an old friend of mine from New York, who used to work for Tor Books as an assistent editor.
Lest you think this is an arbitrary scene, it isn't. I have the entire town mapped out and every storefront identified.
"Shopping Spree" was the first colour cover on Rowrbrazzle ever! Issue 26.
In the window of the toy store behind Tangel' are a lot of fun references to all sorts of things that were favourites of mine. Note the Usagi Yojimbo figure, the Albedo RPG, the Lum doll, the rocket ship from one Tin Tin adventure, a cap pistol supposedly "Dixie's", a toy jeep with Captain Haddock & Tin Tin driving, and a streamlined Art Deco era steam engine.
The book store Tangel' has already walked by shows a number of titles that can't be read in this image. However, at far right is a copy of Fan Loon's Lives (a fake book I did the covers for and wrapped around a copy of a vintage book of similar title). Next is the third novel by a friend of mine, "Gypsies". Then the corner of "The Flying Visit" by a British writer named Peter Fleming (it was written before WWII got really grim, and tells about Hitler parachuting into Britain t find out what the English really thought about him). Next I think is a book of Krazy Kat strips, or about Krazy Kat. Only the "KR" shows, so I'm guessing myself. Then a collection of George Barr art (a real small press edition). My initials TW are on the next book, suggesting its something I imagined writing. "Adam of the Road" by Elizabeth Gray next, a wonderful novel about a 13th. century boy and his troubador father. A book called "Calem Catleb's America", a strange piece of crap that Robert Heinlein says inspired him to write. The final book is impossible to guess. I only see an "N". I'm guessing its a book about New York.
Why? The book store is run by one M. Feder, an old friend of mine from New York, who used to work for Tor Books as an assistent editor.
Lest you think this is an arbitrary scene, it isn't. I have the entire town mapped out and every storefront identified.
"Shopping Spree" was the first colour cover on Rowrbrazzle ever! Issue 26.
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 582 x 750px
File Size 118 kB
True. I think we expected more, but then the Soviet Union went bankrupt and the party's monopoly on politics in Russia was destroyed. Space shuttles were put on the back burner until more important matters were delt with.
Ironically, the Russian approach seems to have been the safer in the long wrong. When was the last time anyone heard of an astronaut being killed in a Soyuz accident? But the American shuttle has lost lives by the boat-load in comparison. It would appear to the American space probram that's unsafe. That was the last outcome anyone expected.
Ironically, the Russian approach seems to have been the safer in the long wrong. When was the last time anyone heard of an astronaut being killed in a Soyuz accident? But the American shuttle has lost lives by the boat-load in comparison. It would appear to the American space probram that's unsafe. That was the last outcome anyone expected.
I'm sorry, I meant it as a compliment, you did capture her appearance why still making her seem unique. Still, most people don't know Pogo from Garfield, so when a character shows up that reminds me of one of the characters, I have to comment just to try and look smart, LOL...
remember this?..........I found it on youtube while searching for walt kelly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyutnmdDwsg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyutnmdDwsg
Oh trust me I do, as My wife can atest!!!
Also I think that it's a bit of what I said, it seems that most everything, especially things posted around holidays or other special events, tend to have a very adult theme here on FA, and a very good sense of humor about it.
I like your style of art, it has a very old fashioned style to it that seems lacking now adays. whether the theme be adult or not, it's still great artwork.
Also I think that it's a bit of what I said, it seems that most everything, especially things posted around holidays or other special events, tend to have a very adult theme here on FA, and a very good sense of humor about it.
I like your style of art, it has a very old fashioned style to it that seems lacking now adays. whether the theme be adult or not, it's still great artwork.
I don't know whether the Buran flew or not. It was mothballed almost immediately I recall, probably because the Soviet Union was broke. Yet they might have put Buran back in service at any time since. One wonders how well it worked.
From what I understand it was in some ways a better, cleaner design. It disposed of the onboard engines I think, a requirement the U.S. space shuttle only needed because of USAF requirements to alter re-entry paths that were later dropped.
On the other hand, perhaps the Soviets had watched the U.S. program and just realized that for all the sales-pitch it was given, the shuttle was expensive and not so easily re-launched. They may have made a high level decision to stick to single-launch vehicles out of practicality.
Maybe I should go read what Wikipedia has to say.
From what I understand it was in some ways a better, cleaner design. It disposed of the onboard engines I think, a requirement the U.S. space shuttle only needed because of USAF requirements to alter re-entry paths that were later dropped.
On the other hand, perhaps the Soviets had watched the U.S. program and just realized that for all the sales-pitch it was given, the shuttle was expensive and not so easily re-launched. They may have made a high level decision to stick to single-launch vehicles out of practicality.
Maybe I should go read what Wikipedia has to say.
According to Wikipedia, the Buran flew two orbits,unmanned, and landed automatically. It was the only full scale Soviet shuttle to fly. Another four were planned, and one named Ptichka was 95 to 98% finihsed when Boris Yeltsin cancelled the program outright. Ptichka is stored at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Buran, unfortunately, was destroyed when its storage hanger collapsed in 2002! The other three shuttles are in various states of incompletion. One is in a museum in Germany, and the other two dismantled.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_.....8spacecraft%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_program
From the photos the Buran looked pretty much like any U.S. space shuttle, including on-board engines. But the article on the Buran program says there were differences. They list a somewhat more efficient lift-to-drag ration, different and possibly superior placement of thermal tiles, the lack of MAIN rocket engines, and an automated landing capabillity the U.S. shuttles lacked. Most of the differences to the shuttle launch system were in the Energia launch vehicle, which seems to have had it all over the U.S. version. Buran was envisioned as only one of a number of launch pacakges for the Engergian, inculding lunar missions. Energia was also inteded to be 100% re-usable. Almost a pity the program was ended, though I'd just as soon authoritarian regimes didn't have anything to be pround of...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_.....8spacecraft%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_program
From the photos the Buran looked pretty much like any U.S. space shuttle, including on-board engines. But the article on the Buran program says there were differences. They list a somewhat more efficient lift-to-drag ration, different and possibly superior placement of thermal tiles, the lack of MAIN rocket engines, and an automated landing capabillity the U.S. shuttles lacked. Most of the differences to the shuttle launch system were in the Energia launch vehicle, which seems to have had it all over the U.S. version. Buran was envisioned as only one of a number of launch pacakges for the Engergian, inculding lunar missions. Energia was also inteded to be 100% re-usable. Almost a pity the program was ended, though I'd just as soon authoritarian regimes didn't have anything to be pround of...
I believe this was used as cover art for an issue of Rowrbrazzle (#26?) - Joe Strike had a copy on Furbid, but it quickly rose above my ability (and inclination) to pay for it. I'm not sure what it finally went for.
(pauses to look things up)
OK, here it is:
http://www.furbid.ws/cgi-bin/auctio.....item=232339334
Yes, #26, started at $5 and wound up over 11 times that. But where's your cut?
Really a nice piece of art.
(pauses to look things up)
OK, here it is:
http://www.furbid.ws/cgi-bin/auctio.....item=232339334
Yes, #26, started at $5 and wound up over 11 times that. But where's your cut?
Really a nice piece of art.
Yep. #26. Says so in the last sentence of the description.
$55 huh? Well, I suspect the other contents were valuable too, so my share of the dough wouldn't add up to much anyway. And that's what fanzines are all about -- getting screwed out of money you could use to pay the rent. But since everybody knows that from the start, its alright.
$55 huh? Well, I suspect the other contents were valuable too, so my share of the dough wouldn't add up to much anyway. And that's what fanzines are all about -- getting screwed out of money you could use to pay the rent. But since everybody knows that from the start, its alright.
Buran was the name of the first and only Soviet space shuttle to fly. I don't know about it being unpowered. It didn't have lift-off rockets like the American shuttle, but did have working rocked about the orbiter for braking out of orbit. It had only flown by remote control though. Wikipedia has a nice article and photos. "Buran" by the way was the name of only the one shuttle, in the way that "Discovery" is the name of only one of six.
I wanted to say something about another picture I saw as you did indeed say there were more Rocky pictures about [So I went ahead and checked] However.. this caught my immediate attention.
Simply put.. this is.. just.. amazing.
It's like... a scene out of the Sears Catalog. Way back when they were referred to as "Sears And Roebuck." [That's meant to be a compliment. I say that as it seems to have that old fashioned quality to it.]
Then again, I don't really need to speak about the old fashioned quality as if it's subtle. It's.. sorely doubtful there are many toy stores like that in the world anymore with toys just lined up within a window.
But putting that aside for the moment, I still like how you have this to be newspaper comic esque here. At least that's how I'm going to interpret it. It's rare that I see put that much emphasis in a background of a picture as well as the foreground. I mean from the bricks of the bottom of the store, to the dropped toy upon the ground, and cracks ON said ground... that's... simply... amazing.
Now, Tangel looks ever so proud of herself there too. And I found that.. well.. comforting. Maybe it's the feeling of accomplishment for the sake of someone else that appeals to me, but that..was captured impressively well on her face here. ...call me old fashioned.
What's also stands out is that each of those gifts have a different pattern on each of them to illustrate that they're all something different instead of just generic boxes. [And bottle, as the Kahula would indicate]
Saying this is absolutely magnificent would be an understatement.
The only thing I can do is step away from the keyboard and clap.
Splendid job here. Simply splendid.
Simply put.. this is.. just.. amazing.
It's like... a scene out of the Sears Catalog. Way back when they were referred to as "Sears And Roebuck." [That's meant to be a compliment. I say that as it seems to have that old fashioned quality to it.]
Then again, I don't really need to speak about the old fashioned quality as if it's subtle. It's.. sorely doubtful there are many toy stores like that in the world anymore with toys just lined up within a window.
But putting that aside for the moment, I still like how you have this to be newspaper comic esque here. At least that's how I'm going to interpret it. It's rare that I see put that much emphasis in a background of a picture as well as the foreground. I mean from the bricks of the bottom of the store, to the dropped toy upon the ground, and cracks ON said ground... that's... simply... amazing.
Now, Tangel looks ever so proud of herself there too. And I found that.. well.. comforting. Maybe it's the feeling of accomplishment for the sake of someone else that appeals to me, but that..was captured impressively well on her face here. ...call me old fashioned.
What's also stands out is that each of those gifts have a different pattern on each of them to illustrate that they're all something different instead of just generic boxes. [And bottle, as the Kahula would indicate]
Saying this is absolutely magnificent would be an understatement.
The only thing I can do is step away from the keyboard and clap.
Splendid job here. Simply splendid.
I did that back in the Good Old Days when I really enjoyed what I was doing and could take as long as I wanted, without feeling rushed to get started on somehing new. Making a living as an artist, and a furry artist at that, has tended to sour the artistic process. I can't just do something because I want to as much as I used to... if fact, infrequently. And I'm always aprehensive that I'm "wasting time" I might be usinto make a buck. As a result I've done quite a bit of simple-minded pin-ups in recent years, devoid of any experimentation and relatively speaking without soul. That's free enterprise for you... the almighty buck tends to push everything out of the way. And after such painful trade-offs, you probably stll won't get rich.
But that's the problem artists have always had, throughout history. The free market turns you into a hack, but state supported arts only turn you into a different sort of hack. The only thing that really seems to foster creative arts is being *born* rich. And most of the rich are born with no talents whatsoever, not event a talent for making more money.
Ah well... I plan to live long enough to retire on the government hand out, then we'll see if I can do this sort of asrt again.
But that's the problem artists have always had, throughout history. The free market turns you into a hack, but state supported arts only turn you into a different sort of hack. The only thing that really seems to foster creative arts is being *born* rich. And most of the rich are born with no talents whatsoever, not event a talent for making more money.
Ah well... I plan to live long enough to retire on the government hand out, then we'll see if I can do this sort of asrt again.
Love how you put "Good Old Days" as a proper noun. Given these days it's about the same an era as saying "The Jazz Age."
Believe me when I say I totally understand. When you're an artist, it's basically, pump out something that sells, no matter what the hell it is. Soulful art? Who cares about that? Case in point being that Cocktail ad I'm looking at right now at the bottom of the page.
But apparently, that's how the world works. "Money talks" and all that.
I suppose going against that is why I liked this picture here. It's one of those furry pictures that looks like it's from a time when "furry art" wasn't synonymous with "commercialized porn." [If you don't believe me, again, refer to the ad you'll probably see at the bottom of the screen, or damn near 80% of the recent uploads if you hit "browse" as an option.]
It's one of those pieces that wasn't done as much for the sake of a paycheck. Just because it was also the holiday season. And that I happen to respect.
Believe me when I say I totally understand. When you're an artist, it's basically, pump out something that sells, no matter what the hell it is. Soulful art? Who cares about that? Case in point being that Cocktail ad I'm looking at right now at the bottom of the page.
But apparently, that's how the world works. "Money talks" and all that.
I suppose going against that is why I liked this picture here. It's one of those furry pictures that looks like it's from a time when "furry art" wasn't synonymous with "commercialized porn." [If you don't believe me, again, refer to the ad you'll probably see at the bottom of the screen, or damn near 80% of the recent uploads if you hit "browse" as an option.]
It's one of those pieces that wasn't done as much for the sake of a paycheck. Just because it was also the holiday season. And that I happen to respect.
Money talks... when people listen.
I have to admit that its depressing how much furry art is low grade porn, and so much of the rest is just low grade. Even when I discover some nifty new artist, I usually find that 20, 40, or 50 files will emcompass all they have to say. Once I reach that point I rarely bother to save any more of their files. Of course, 40 paintings would probably map Picasso from one end to the other, and 10 would likely be enough for Jackson Pollack. Maybe I'm just *better* than them? (Preen.)
I have to admit that its depressing how much furry art is low grade porn, and so much of the rest is just low grade. Even when I discover some nifty new artist, I usually find that 20, 40, or 50 files will emcompass all they have to say. Once I reach that point I rarely bother to save any more of their files. Of course, 40 paintings would probably map Picasso from one end to the other, and 10 would likely be enough for Jackson Pollack. Maybe I'm just *better* than them? (Preen.)
"Money talks when people listen."
I may just start using that one.
But you're right. It IS seriously depressing how much furry art is porn. That's why I stopped uploading to this place.
Mind you I have one picture on my gallery. And it's practically religious related. Why?
I'm trying to hold on to that small little bit of "positive furry image" that's about as easy to find as a dinosaur fossil. Mind you, it won't ever happen again, but I'm refusing to move from the Good Old Days.
They're called that for a reason. If they're so good...why leave them and change?
I've went through your gallery and..mind you, I can surprisingly guess which are expected to be commerical art and which have a message to them. [Here's a hint: Which of them can be shown to public proudly without having to have a story behing them that's starts of with "someone paid me to..." ]
Better than them? Well.. I'd say you are. Simply because you know what you're doing and why you're doing it. I mean.. if that's how you're making an extra source of income, then I can't fault you. I have bills just like the next person, and it's an understandable thing after all.
But it's when it's just porn jst drawn for the sake of popularity and well.. I guess the quote is "shits and giggles," that's when it's just upsetting.
While I'm at it, I'd like to thank you for putting up with me this long.
I'd put you on watch, but there's a general rule of mine preventing it. I don't watch people with either more than 255 people on watch, or a four digit number.
...I'd rather not be lumped in with a group of raving sycophants.
Though I don't mind stopping by to actually say something. I might be the onyl person who'll do it every so often just of my own volition rather than when you upload something new and try to be the first comment that's nothing more than ass kissing.
It's.. refreshing to have a decent conversation. And on this site of all places.
Once again, I can respect that.
I may just start using that one.
But you're right. It IS seriously depressing how much furry art is porn. That's why I stopped uploading to this place.
Mind you I have one picture on my gallery. And it's practically religious related. Why?
I'm trying to hold on to that small little bit of "positive furry image" that's about as easy to find as a dinosaur fossil. Mind you, it won't ever happen again, but I'm refusing to move from the Good Old Days.
They're called that for a reason. If they're so good...why leave them and change?
I've went through your gallery and..mind you, I can surprisingly guess which are expected to be commerical art and which have a message to them. [Here's a hint: Which of them can be shown to public proudly without having to have a story behing them that's starts of with "someone paid me to..." ]
Better than them? Well.. I'd say you are. Simply because you know what you're doing and why you're doing it. I mean.. if that's how you're making an extra source of income, then I can't fault you. I have bills just like the next person, and it's an understandable thing after all.
But it's when it's just porn jst drawn for the sake of popularity and well.. I guess the quote is "shits and giggles," that's when it's just upsetting.
While I'm at it, I'd like to thank you for putting up with me this long.
I'd put you on watch, but there's a general rule of mine preventing it. I don't watch people with either more than 255 people on watch, or a four digit number.
...I'd rather not be lumped in with a group of raving sycophants.
Though I don't mind stopping by to actually say something. I might be the onyl person who'll do it every so often just of my own volition rather than when you upload something new and try to be the first comment that's nothing more than ass kissing.
It's.. refreshing to have a decent conversation. And on this site of all places.
Once again, I can respect that.
One of the reasons I keep posting to this site is that I can generate conversations. I've found DeviantArt to be less fertile, for all that it covers a wider variety of artists and viewers.
In any case, I don't watch too many people either, though I have no principle guiding the actual number -- its more that I don't have time if I'm going to produce art and do some writing. What I tend to do instead is bookmark the page, and when the inspiration strikes, see what the artist has been up to.
In any case, I don't watch too many people either, though I have no principle guiding the actual number -- its more that I don't have time if I'm going to produce art and do some writing. What I tend to do instead is bookmark the page, and when the inspiration strikes, see what the artist has been up to.
I was being a little facitious about Megatron... but not entirely. I gather its a cartoon about giant robot warriors, maybe even a Transfromer robot. That's sufficient reason to abandon further interest, it seems to me. TV animation about fights are usually about as subtle as a battleship in a punch bowl.
Comments