"Time is a Thief With a Loaded Gun..."

Sorry that it's been a long time since the last post (wow, just under a month). I've been super busy with school, and because I've decided to focus on said school, I'm passing all of my classes, all with 2.0 or higher (I know that's not much, but that's saying something when you're talking about me.) An excuse to sit down and do a picture was that for a critical thinking English class I'm taking, there's a creative final project due, something that you make (picture, poem, sculpture, etc) and then an analysis paper on what inspired you to do it this way.

I actually finished this one about a week ago, but had both a vital test and presentation due for my math class (on which I got an 87% and 97% , respectively). Now that all the 'main projects' are done, I can devote more time to drawing again (though lifting weights has become a fascination to me as of late...it really is true when weight lifters say that it's addicting).

Anyway, the theme of my English class is American Literature that has to do with time travel (and perhaps the best book that's been covered is 'Slaughterhouse Five' by Kurt Vonnegut.) So, the theme of the 'creative project' had to do with time (passage of it, time-travel, etc).

Here's a quick explanation of what's in the picture: the eye represents life, our experiences, our failures, our triumphs. When we view life as the means to an ends (the end being death, thus the skull in the pupil and the person's clothes turning monochrome while looking into the eye), we tend to lose sight of all the amazing events happening around us (the colorful backdrop of 'tick-tock'). We need to instead focus on the task laid out before us (one day at a time, thus the eye focusing on the man), and this almost always, at least with some of the more important aspects of life, requires taking a chance (the flipping of a coin into the eye). Making a choice or taking a chance will effect the rest of your life (thus the ripples from the coin distorting the clock inlaid into the eye). All we can do is to make sure our decisions are the best ones and will effect our lives for the best.

It was actually quite liberating to take my art seriously (I mean REALLY seriously) for once, trying to create metaphors out of imagery. Expect to see more of these in the months/years to come. I don't know when the next picture(s) will be up: I still have a few more weeks of school to go before summer, and at least two more papers and two more tests to complete. But who knows: maybe I'll cram a lot of work into one day and have time left over to doodle up a little something (I've got 3 big pictures/projects in the works as of this moment, one to be finished before school's end). So stay tuned: there will be more soon...I just don't know when. And, as always, hope this one was worth the long wait.

By the way, the skull in the pupil was an accidental reference to the M. C. Escher picture foundhere. I thought of it, put it in my picture, then stumbled upon Escher's picture will trying to explain to my grandma what "tessellations" are, using Google Images. Go figure, huh?

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers.

~J

A Barrage from the Past 15

I don't feel like writing much today. This is an old one from a sketchbook: the segment was called "Ode to Random People", and there are about four more like this, so expect some more when I don't feel up to cranking out a new one.

© 2008 Jeremy Owen

Cheers,

~J

Famous People Who Are Actually Kinda Cool #4

I don't know how many times I'll say this, but just for reiteration's sake, I'll say it again: a lot of the subject matter that I draw is inspired by conversations and events in my life, as was this one. I had a conversation with a friend about the newest Billy Talent album, III, and this is what came up. This famous person is a bit more obscure: many of you may not know who it is. But if you've seen this person before, you'll know who it is immediately. Today's famous person is lead guitar fr0, sorry for, Billy Talent, Ian D'Sa. I'm not sure which is better: his insane guitar skill or his awesome hair. Look him up in Google Images to get the full effect. As for hearing his distinctive and awesome style of playing, scroll down to the bottom of this page and find a Billy Talent song. He really is a master at his art.

I'll try to post soon(er). I've still got a lot on my plate (as usual), but we'll see.

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers,

~J

Controversy

The subject matter of today's post (as well as the picture for some of you) has/will caused/cause much controversy among parents and critics alike: are we supposed to spank our children as a form of punishment? First of all, for those of you who have unresolved issues, let me try to put things into terms you understand. Spanking a child, in the right context, is not abuse, but you wouldn't know that unless you've been spanked in your lifetime. The process, as was done in my life, should go like this: after the child has done something wrong or inappropriate, the parent needs to take the child aside, and tell the child what he/she has done wrong. They should then tell the child that they love them, but that that (love) doesn't change the fact that what they've done is wrong. Then, after it's been explained why they're getting the spanking, administer the spanking. Afterward, reaffirm with the child the reason for the spanking and that you love them even though they do what they aren't supposed to sometimes. If the child understands why the use of spanking is being administered, they'll know what will bring it about and, hopefully, will shy away from 'wrong' behavior.

That being said, you'll know what the true context for spanking is: the picture, however, may not live up to the actual way in which discipline should be administered. There are parents out there that, as soon as the child does something 'wrong', will take the child over their knee so fast, the kid won't know what to do. The picture today, then, is a representation of that: kids that need a little more reminding of not to do naughty things. Bear in mind that it's just a picture: actually, the idea is not my own. You can find the original picture here, the work of a group of friends I'm sure feel the same way I do about spanking, that it's okay to do in the right context...or they were just messing around. Probably a mix of both.

Original idea © Jake Hanna, Donald Schipper, Jeremiah Paulsen, and any other minions involved

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers.

~J

To Which He Replied..."To Save the World." #1

This will be one of many with the same theme (though I probably won't post all of them sequentially.) Today's post has to do with one of the most inventive comics that's come through the industry in a long time: The Umbrella Academy. It's so off-the-wall and different from anything that I've seen: almost nothing in it is conventional. It's great. It was really fun to just let loose with the look of 'Spaceboy': most of the pictures I do try to retain some sort of realism (as much as I can anyway), but with these characters I can totally let loose and try new things that I don't normally get to do. I would love to see this series made into a quality movie (or even series of movies if they do it well enough). The characters are great, the story is great: it's just great. I enjoy it anyway. So the theme of the pictures is made to look like character one-sheets (or, for those of you who have no idea what I just said) movie posters. I in no way want this to be animated: a live-action version would add a great aesthetic as a lot of the elements from the comic would be interesting to see translated into "reality". I don't know when I'll post again. Spring break was too short, and I've got a lot of projects on my plate besides work and school (more previews of those to appear before the end of the month I suppose.) Hope this was worth the wait.

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

The Umbrella Academy: characters and logo © Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá

Cheers.

~J

Huhwhahuh #9

There's only one other person on the planet who will get this picture completely: it's an inside joke. There's a very easy way of figuring the joke out, and if you're current with texting or chat messages, you're even closer to getting it. I won't say too much more because there's really no adequate way to describe how this came about. You just had to be there.

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers.

~J

A Tribute to Facial Hair #2: The Professor

This one was inspired by the fact that every teacher on the college campus I go to (minus the woman teachers) have this style of beard. Not a full beard: no, merely a goatee of sorts. I don't know what it is: maybe it's a standard that needs to be upheld and none of the men are allowed to grow hair on the sides of their faces: I don't know and probably never will. It seems to be one of those things that can't ever really be explained, like the Loch-Ness Monster or chocolate-free chocolate chips.

The subject of this one is my current Philosophy teacher. He too sports the infamous professor-cult goatee, but I can honestly say that that only adds to the fact that he has become one of my favorite teachers (we all eventually come across one teacher we like). And, as always, my face is still in protest of growing more than a silly creeperstache and the occasional inch long rebel-hair on my chin/cheek. I've seen infomercials for those machines that deliver low-level light to the scalp, increasing blood-flow for hair regrowth. Maybe they've got a beard shaped one for people like me. Who knows?

© 2010 Jeremy Owen

Cheers.

~J