MEGAPOST #1

I don't know if I'll ever do this again (or at least not for a while), but here's a mega post. I've been busy lately, with work and other projects. For the past month, I've been slaving away trying to come up with interesting designs for Threadless.com. I recently discovered the site, and there is a link to it to the right of the page (follow the link to learn about prizes/payment/etc.) . Sorry I haven't posted these before now: like I said, I've been busy. But here they are, and I hope you enjoy.

#1. Reversal: the idea was to reverse how things are done. Instead of bombs raining down, destroying a landscape, I thought it would be interesting to have rain acting like bombs, restoring the landscape. Overall, people loved the design, but thought it a bit too busy for the eye. Final Score: 1.94/5

#2. Charles Schultz vs. M. C. Escher: Threadless has contests every few weeks or so, and the theme for this one was to pay homage to comics. I've always loved Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang, and so decided to put a twist on the classic shirt that Charlie always seems to be wearing. Final Score: 2.02/5

#3. A Simple Seed: this was for another contest. The theme: MAXTOPIA, which is a combination of nature and technology. With this one, I drew a seed that was filled with tech, with sprouts in the shape of micro-chip workings. Final Score: 2.06/5

#4. I Pity the Fool Who Isn't Honest: This was a mashup of Mr. T's angsty style and Abraham Lincoln's demeanor. I wouldn't want to mess with him...would you. Unfortunately, this one wasn't getting enough votes, and the votes that did come in weren't good enough. Scoring ended early, after just one day. Final Score: 1.82/5

#5. Thought Transportation: This was a throwback to "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" but also a slap in the face to the phrase "Train of Thought". I'm tired of hearing that one way of thoughts to travel...why not a zeppelin of thought...or a camel of thought? Let your thoughts travel inventively...just...anything but a train. Final Score: 1.94/5

#6. Refined Caveman's Request: this idea popped into my head the other day. I'm not sure what I should title it. I used a font that says it's commercial free, but I'm not going to risk it. I emailed the creator of the font to see if I can use it. If not, I'll use another one. For now, enjoy the picture. Final score: 2.18/5

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Model Photos Courtesy via Threadless.com

I suppose that's enough to keep you satisfied for now. I'll try to get more on soon. I'm working on projects for people that aren't getting done, and I'm feeling awful about it. Accordingly, I'm going to spend time working on those too and so may not post again for a while. Hope these were worth the wait.

Cheers,

~J

"I Wish I'd Stayed...Too."

How happy is the blameless vestal's lot!

The world forgetting, by the world forgot.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind!

Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd;

- Alexander Pope

I just recently watched Eternal Sunshine again. I forgot how quirky and dysfunctional it was. That may be why I like it...I don't know. I can never forget the scene where it boils down to a choice that was made, a choice that was the beginning of the end, and, when contemplating a do-over, there's this line..."I wish I'd stayed...too." That's where this one is taking place: I thought about including that quote in the picture, but, as almost always, I messed around in Photoshop enough to make the picture take on a different feel than originally intended.

I don't necessarily recommend Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: if you like conventional movies, you won't like it. I've grown so tired of conventional movies: same plot, same ending. Yes...unconventional is much more rewarding, when actual thought is put into a film, when the money is second thought and creativity is the main goal. Yes...unconventional is good.

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers,

~J

Famous People Who Are Actually Kinda Cool # 5

If you don't know who this is, I'm sorry. Go look him up. Just in case Late Night television doesn't work out, Conan could always keep touring his act around the globe. He might even make more money doing that that just letting the networks foist him around every which way. If he does decide to tour again, here's an idea for a tour poster. You saw it here first: all copyrights belong to me, but I'll gladly let them use this concept if they ask. I hope they do ask.

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and, if life gives you lemons, make some kind of fruity juice.

~J

A Showcase of Bands # 5

No matter what they do, Yeah Yeah Yeahs never seen to get old to me. It could be Karen O's angst-y, crazy nature...it could be that Karen scored Spike Jonze's "Where the Wild Things Are" movie (and did a spectacular job I might add)...but it's probably because they sound...REAL. There's no auto-tune, there's no polished riffs: just plain music. I haven't actually followed them for that long (somewhere in between the releases of "Show Your Bones" and "It's Blitz"), but I've quickly picked up the slack. I hope to hear much more music from them in the future. And who knows...I may have some future Karen O inspired pictures in the future.

I'll try to have some more up soon.

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Wait...they don't love you like I love you...

~J

"Yo, Aid-wee-ann"

I guess that this one was a bit of an update on an older picture too, but that's ok: it happens. This was, yet again, another one from work that was made using only pen. It's getting easier and easier to visualize where I want to go with the picture AND actually translating what's in my head without the use of pencil and, more importantly, erasers. It's not perfect: the proportions could be a bit off, but I'm happy with it. It's only the third big picture I've done without pencil that I can remember (well, that's probably not entirely accurate, but you get the picture), so the process is moving along swimmingly. I might not post again for a week or so (I'll be house sitting, working, and trying to hang out with a bunch of friends before they go either back to mounds of homework OR away to school many miles away (the nearest college is probably 2 hours drive away.) We'll see though. I've surprised myself before, but I suppose looking into the mirror early in the morning doesn't count.

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers,

~J

Revisiting the Past

I've always had this picture in my head, of how I'd like my life to be when I get older, when I've finally landed a career doing something that supplies enough money to fund my life. It's kinda stupid and will probably never happen, but it's nice to have dreams in mind to work toward.

I'd like to pursue music or art, but neither pays well unless you hit it big.

I'd like to live in the city for awhile, to see what it's like...I've always lived in a small town and have enjoyed going to the a big city.

I'd like to get in great physical shape, a road that I'm on but that will take a while.

I'd like, as you know from previous posts, to be able to grow a beard: if not that, at least some 5'o'clock shadow for cryin' out loud.

And...I'd like to find someone who appreciates me for who I am as a person, someone who'll respect and love me for me, not for what I can do, or, more importantly, what I can do for them. It seems like all my friendships are based around those things. And I'd like to change that, but, again, that's unlikely to happen.

I redrew the picture to see if my perception of my hopes and dreams would change at all, but not much has. I lost a lot of the random things: I've grown up and experienced a lot since the last picture: grown more...serious...about many things. And maybe, just maybe, in a few years, I'll update it again. Who knows? It's nice sometimes...to revisit the past...to see what's changed, but what's even more rewarding is to see that even after bumps, bruises, and backstabs...you can still stay true to yourself. I only hope I can retain that for the rest of my [insert adjective here] life.

P.S. If you look hard enough at the beacon on top of the Space Needle, you'll notice it's a different shape. Have a guess at what it is.

2008

2010

© 2008-10 Jeremy Owen

Background Image Courtesy via Google Images

Cheers,

~J

Sad Robot Face

This is an idea I have for a children's book. If all goes well, I'll have the illustrations done by the end of the summer, and maybe I can find some way to publish it. It won't be as colorful as the picture: this is just a tease for the upcoming project. I hope that someday I could do stuff like this for a living, but at the same time, I don't want to do this for the rest of my life. I enjoy it and all, but it's got its costs. Drawing requires a lot of thinking about what to do next. I don't have an employer, so I constantly have to come up with ideas, and my brain has a complex for that sort of thing: I've got good ideas, but they fall apart quickly because I don't have the resources or the time to follow through on a lot of the ideas. That frustrates me more than anything: I just wish someone other than my family and friends would appreciate my hard work sometimes, but that might come through someday. And sometimes...I wish someone would appreciate me for me, not what I can do, because it feels like that's all I've ever been known for among people: what I can do. I guess I should quit moping now. Just know why there's gaps sometimes between posts. Here's the picture:

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers,

~J