Paper Dreams

Paper Dreams... one of the books I waited for. Yesterday it arrived and again, since I ordered it in the UK, it had to go through the customs and was delivered in a shed paperboard package and a totally beautiful blue customs duty sack. >_>;
Ok, back to the book. It´s huge (bigger than A4, can´t squeeze it in any of my bags) and heavy (realized that yesterday while carrying it home). And it´s totally awesome and worth every Cent.


it´s 09:14 in the morning here and I just ran over the pages stopping here and there. Even if you´re not into Disney all the storyboards and concepts and color settings and interviews might be enough to love the book. It´s so interesting and as most people who suggested the book told me: "You won´t be able to learn nothing."


Alice. Totally different from everything you´ve seen on the screen and I guess that´s the most interesting part (and always the best part of the "The Art Of..." books btw): How did the characters look in the concept phase.
If I had time I would rummage through the book all day. But I have an appointment with a photographer (new author portrait... and geee, I am not the "the cam loves me-type" XD) and I still have to finish some illustrations. Crap.

Final thought: If you are into animation, Disney, concepts or just interested in spending a lot of money for a huge book: Buy it.
I just googled and saw that it´s much more cheaper on Amazon.com (listed price: 60.00, now 37.80) than Amazon.de atm. Not that I hate spending too much money on books, just a good point for those who order via .com ... here it´s already listed for 60-120 euro, so grab it while it is cheap.

Babuscka

boogie cat is sitting on the top... the postman might come by...

cold evening

Another color test...

"The forest -starting behind your walls- can be calm but make sure you won´t jump when you hear it cracking and rustling."

Goggle Hippo

WRRROOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM.... XD

How I (let) scan...

Something new to learn.
I went scanning this week (on Thuesday). The bag was heavy. 12 canvases.. I even had to take an extra bag although mine is huge and the extra-bag was still missing (because my editor forgot to give it back :/ ) so I strolled around with something that looked like smuggling weapons or a little rocket... or both.
For those who always wanted to have a big bag where you can transport canvases and like ten million things along:


that´s mine... 72 x 55 x 7 cm for around 35 bucks. You won´t get a better for THAT price and I love the bag. I had a MH Way years ago but the problem is that you can´t put that many canvases in. Horray for a bag! (and you know, this is the only bag Ty carries around for me... because it´s sooo impressivly huge- sure a cool thing ).

Back to scanning. I´ve been scanning on a Cruse cam for over two years now. And I could cry every time I see the results. Not because those are bad but because I had to scan the images for my first book on a roll scanner. Which means you have to cut the canvas from the frame. And if the roll scanner doesn´t grip the canvas right the colors suck. The colors suck anyway so whatever you do: Never scan on a roll scanner. Never.

The Cruse scanner looks like this:


The top is the actual scan head. On both sides (45°) are fluorecent tubes (the REAL.. expensive-I-will-never-be-able-to-afford-those daylight lamps since they have to "warm up" (just like my Lilliput) for 20 minutes). The canvas (or object) is put onto the flat screen at the bottom. There are different measurement scales on so that the scanner can position the object accurately.

As you might see there is no real "touching" which is the reason why highly damagable things are scanned with the Cruse. Mr. König, my favourite scanner (who is now owner of the Kulla book he scanned... ) told me that the German Museum scanned some of the sensitive papers (like original music sheets, letters..) on it. Which is understandable. Try to do that on a roll scanner *haha >_>*

When the canvas is on the Cruse, the head moves slightly and scans the surface (in that case all two centimeters down... which means the edges of the canvas is really sharp). For artists who work with medium or structure paste this is heaven, because the camera catches all uneven parts without extreme shadows. If you wanna learn more google Cruse camera.
I just want to add that scanning is pricy. If you don´t do a mass-scanning the setup might be listed extra and ... well, let me mention that I payed over 350 Euro. For my Thuesday visit. And this was one of three appointments. I think the price is totally okay for me and for book illustrations but if you just want to digitalize a little canvas/illustration "for fun" you might consider your home scanner or a photo repro (as a cheaper solution).

Everything hurts blissfully

I can´t believe it.. it´s 01:03 in the morning and everything is done... everything. Ok, except those:


Today I finished 5 (in words: FIVE) canvases and corrected one additional. I haven´t done that many since.. well, last year in April when I had my last huge deadline. >_>

My back hurts, my neck hurts, my arm hurts and even my butt hurts from sitting too long on a chair made for sitting straight (but not comfortable). But nevertheless I´m in a bliss. It´s done.. nothing to worry about. Just some small canvases left.. who cares. Those are easy. No backgrounds, no trees (ok, one tree...), no million clouds and no more red hoods (just carrots... but those don´t count).

I hope I won´t regret the night-shift when I wake up in five hours. Uh... @_@ ...

DO NOT PANIC

don´t panic... 5 illustrations in two days... and book-signing... and two illustration corrections. I can do this.. I can... ok, I HAVE to, but it´s still possible that I actually *can* do it.

This gonna be a looonngg night. And next night: as well. I think I´m gonna be sleepy all day in office but well, just a huge illustration and a huge meeting to do. Well... I still have the option of drugging me with ten double shot coffees >_>;

omg, omg, omg

ps... my workspace at daytime. Looks a lot better with daylight. Not that I see it liek that too often ^^;