Life, Rants, and Art (Not in that order)

What I've been up to lately...

2010-12-31T15:19:00.001-08:00

Well, here we are at the end of 2010 and I haven written in a while. Long story short, I've been busy and pretty bogged down for lack of a better term. Sometimes, living the life of a freelancer with a "9 to 5" on the side can be quite tiring and detrimental to maintaining an artistic drive.

In the midst of this, however, I have somehow managed to win the 1st annual Tech Staff Member of the Year award. (hooray) The prize? An iPad.

O_o

Now for those of you that know me, my beliefs regarding devices, being "trendy", or drawing tools still has not changed and never will. However, those that know me all too well know that to me, a device like this translates into a digital sketchbook... A rather expensive digital sketchbook. The first thing I did was find a few animation programs. The next thing I did was snag some drawing programs...namely sketchbook pro from Alias. (I'll give my two cents later on all of these...I promise.)

So I've been doing a few doodles on sketchbook as of late. Whether or not I decide to go further with them remains to be seen as I am getting used to the interface of this. (will post after doing my usual schtick with them so it can be "postable" in my standards.)

--------------

So, back to the end of 2010... This year was weird for me. I can't really make heads or tails of it or tell you why I feel this way, but it just was. (I hope that makes sense.)

Hopefully 2011 will be better and filled with a string of good luck for me and A.G. It feels like we're well overdue for some right about now.

And I wish that your new year is filled with great things too, as the proverbial slate of time has been cleared once again. Thank you all for dealing with me as I rant and rave about the goings on in my world.

Till next year, kiddies...

CF by choice.

2010-10-03T20:54:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

Since the rant I had was inappropriate for this blog, I have picked up another blog for that purpose.

http://cfbychoice.blogspot.com/

So all rants regarding brats, sprogs, moos, duhs, SUV strollers, and the like are going to be directed over there.

I call it creative release. :)

Later.

Holy updates, batman! bricked

2010-09-17T20:27:00.000-07:00

In short:

A.G.'s birthday was today...celebrated and spent time with her. She said she enjoyed the day, which means that the day was pretty successful. *pats self on back*

Finally got some headway into my queue...but didn't really get much into it. Work was frustrating, busy, an quite draining.

Not really much else to say, so...See ya next time.

30 - Year in Review

2010-08-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

So yesterday, I've turned 31. Unlike my last several birthdays, it wasn't really riddled with self-evaluation and self-critique. In all honesty, that was what the other 364 days (on and off) were for. Though I kid, there is some truth behind that statement. I try to avoid it, but I realize that doing so is an exercise in futility. Therefore, it's best to keep it to a minimum, if possible.

Anyway, things seem to have normalized for now. Andrea has a gig doing animation work...site's in somewhat running capacity. I'm actually doing stuff for the purposes of that site.

As for my legendary queue...well, I figured that I should formally organize that and stick to the schedule as much as super-humanly possible. So while she works on stuff, I can work on stuff. It's going to be a cornucopia of productivity, i tells ya!

...or at least in theory. Only time will tell.

Till next time.

About freakin' time...

2010-08-21T17:29:00.000-07:00

So...I was going to do all of that "creating a website from scratch" stuff that I used to do. But that was before I really looked at wordpress and one of their templates and thought to myself:

"Hey, it's quick, marketable, AND customizable...SOLD!"

...and that's how I finally got my site up and running. It is blog-like (Wordpress, so of course) So I'll have to make a habit of keeping up with it...and this blog too. (No, this blog is not going anywhere. I have to keep my personal musings and random doodles somewhere,)

So without further ado, my site. Just click on the image. It should work.

Now to actually put something in the website...this will take some doing.

Until next time. :)

Responses now available quickly

2010-08-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

It appears that I had a few responses to my older posts which I never knew existed.

It also appears that I didn't have responses sent directly to my email.

Two years a noob, yet aren't we all noobs? :P Anyway, it's all fixed now. It's easier for me to be paranoid.

Now before I get into metaphysics, I'll end my post here.

Evolutionary chaos.

2010-06-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hi readers,

I know it's been a while since I have last written something.

And in actuality, I did have a blog post that I have done...something that is quite long and tedious and blah blah blah blah blah. But I did this out of complete rage over the animation industry in general. It is now sitting in my drafts folder and it remain sitting there until I feel in that particular mood to post it...or not. Right now, (for those that are wondering) I am indifferent. So I'll post this one instead. (forgive the lack of pretty pictures for this one time, ok?)

Once upon a time, I was a bright-eyed bushy-tail...er....peppy kid who just loved to draw and draw and draw. My creativity was through the roof. Tons of characters, worlds, hell, even entire omniverses complete with stories that would intertwine with each other...all stashed within the depths of my brain. It was great! Now, before you call your nearest facility to have the gents in white coats put me into the "special coat" and carry me to the room with pillows on the walls, hear me out. My sketchbooks were constantly full and my technique was somewhat managed, but for the most part, raw..kind of like how my hair is at the moment. (I do wash and maintain it, but it remains pretty nappy. And I'm fin with it. ANYWAY...) So I went to school to study animation.

I have/had a rather complicated love-hate relationship with school. I mean, if I had not enrolled, I might not have met Andrea. So for that I'm VERY grateful. But as for me as an artist and a person...

...well, let's just say that I have changed.

What I mean is that when I started, I had that creative spunk and vigor that I just loved. It was my drug. It got me through some really bad and messed up parts of my life that I really wish not to mention and it was all good.

It was that place where I needed to refine my techniques even further. Not that there's anything wrong with it. Hell, I'm always for self improvement. You can never get enough of that, in my opinion. But, this refinery was different.

"You'll never get a job in the industry unless you do this."
"You need to be dedicated or else you're better off in another field."
"It won't get you into Pixar"

Things like that that's neither productive or counter-productive...at least to me, anyway.

After a while, I found myself working to that end and playing into it...and slowly becoming a being that I did not want to be...ever:

One that willingly wishes to work for an elitist asshole of a company for the sole purpose of financial gain...even at the expense of others.

I have seen many people go down that route. Some are successful, for but a moment. While others are not and lament about where they went wrong after doing what they were told to do. And the thought of me becoming one of them thoroughly disgusted me. That was where the "Animation Revolution" begun.

I had the desire (whether it's a romantic or realistic one is irrelevant.) to bring a bunch of people together to just do something and make a name for ourselves. No need for a company or incorporation papers...we just get inspired, get cracking, and that was that. Since there were others that shared this desire, the Animation Revolution was born. Media was irrelevant, though we did want to break the mold of the status quo which was largely 3d at the time.

Then everyone got busy with finals...
...then the politics (long story onto itself)...

Ultimately, the group disbanded/graduated and that was that.

Years later, I found myself getting increasingly bitter with the industry and its practices. I also found myself trying to wear 548,768,765 hats all at once..just to get a job and out of my current financial situation. that didn't work out all too well. After all of this, I went back to what my friend, Jon said to me once.

"Sometimes, it's best to know when to say 'fuck it'."

And you know something...he's right. I am going to try not to worry about these matters because by doing so, it makes me stray from myself. I know it can't be done overnight and it may put me on "underground" status...and I'm perfectly fine with it. If I do make mainstream, that's all the better, because I have done this on my terms. As for the Revolution itself, if I get enough people on board...sure,why not?

If you find yourself at this stage (you know who you are...), feel free to follow suit. Don't worry about others' opinions of you or your actions. Don't bother yourself with what XYZ animation company alums tell you to do or what the 9 old men have said in various tomes on animation. You are not them and will never be. Just get in there and better yourself in the process in whatever way possible. Everything is a growth experience.

Well, you've been a card. Thanks for reading. I'll try to get in some supplementary doodles on my next post.

Till next time, kiddies.

Train sketches 2.17.10 (PM) and 2.18.10 (AM)

2010-02-18T11:19:00.000-08:00

Last night, I was thinking about the whole "Man on the moon" concept. This was the result. Which brings me to this morning's drawing...

TEMPLE MAN!! If one's body is a temple, would this be what we all are essentially?

(Don't ask me how I come up with these thoughts. They just...happen.)

Anyway, till we meet again, kiddies.

Train Sketch 02.17.10 (Morning)

2010-02-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here's the first Train Sketch. (See previous post.)

I like drawing random creatures. There are rules to draw them, yet at the same time there are not. This sketch is a wingless dragon...at least the front end of one... done with an erasable pen. (hence the smearing.)

Train sketching project.

2010-02-17T09:03:00.000-08:00

I apologize for slacking off with the posts...very unbecoming for someone who's serious about animating, character design, etc., etc. So here's how I'll make up for it.

I will post sketches that I make while on the train going either to or from work. (Which I tend to do quite frequently to pass travel time.)

The Rules:

Each session usually begins when I am actually sitting in the train and goes on for the duration of the trip. When I arrive at my stop, the session ends and I move on to the next blank sheet for my next trip. If I am inclined to make this a bigger project, I will do so when I'm good and ready. The topic of each sketch is completely random, as it is dependent on whatever I feel like drawing at the time. The amount of finish on each sketch is dependent on how quickly I whip through said sketch. If anyone would like to do a similar project, go right ahead.

Some news....

2009-04-20T09:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know it's been a while, a lot of things have been going on lately, but I'll attempt to save it for another post.

Anyway, I'm announcing that I've ditched jasonburley.com (rather I let my contract run out for godaddy) and am in the process of moving all of my work (along with Andrea's) to www.burleytoons.com. There's nothing on it as of this moment, but I'm actually using justhost.com which provides me with unlimited...everything! (Meaning I can post as many animations as I please without going through youtube or vimeo. COMPLETE CONTROL ALL THE WAY...and no unwanted banner ads, (unless they're paying me, that is...) for roughly a few bucks more than what I've been paying for the last few years. If you would like to advertiseon my site, contact me.

Interesting that as soon as my old domain ran dry, some investment guy that shares my name has scooped it up right away...very well, he can have my spam. :) As soon as HIS contract dries up, I'll snag it again.

So once again:
www.jasonburley.com - some financial advice website
www.burleytoons.com - my website

Till next time, kids!

History

2008-11-05T10:39:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama won the presidency.

Personally, I'm happy about this. However not for the reasons one petty enough would think.

As with any newly elected president, his policies and how he handles the current issues that plague us will be viewed by an electron microscope. Call it a wait and see attitude, if you want. I call it "Put up or shut up". I'd be the exact same way if it were McCain or any independent. The reason I would rather have Obama as president is because he seems to be the one that can successfully spearhead the process in cleaning up the sad state of affairs of our country. (Read: he's only the beginning of the process.) Not because of race or anything petty like that.

Speaking of race, I would like to say that this election sickened me. I know that there are people that voted either way because of race. Yes, I know people are going to vote for who they want because of things like that instead of because of what's important - which at the end of the day, is what should matter at the booth - and yes, I accept the fact that this has been going on since the concept of electing a leader has begun. But this reason is far too petty to vote someone in. Consequently, I am also glad this election went on, because this way I get to see the true nature of a lot of people instead of the bullshit that they display.

At least they're up front about it.

So... for those who voted either way because of those annoying little issues, I would like to say the following:

No, the country is not going to hell in a handbasket just because a black man is in office. Your kids are safe, I assure you.
No, the bad guys will not take over the world. Give it a rest.
Ray-Ray and Lil' Man who got locked up for robbing that liquor store last month will remain in jail for as long as they're supposed to. Sorry.
As for the 1% (You know who you are.), you'll live. you may have to pay a little more in taxes, but you'll just be like the rest of us. Get over it.
Hopefully, this will prove that this "man" that's holding us down as a race is not necessarily the one in the office. It's many things and it starts within. Ok? Ok.

Now that's out of the way, let's get on with our lives. If you have reasonable thougts, I'd be glad to hear them. :)

Till next time, kids.

Patrick W. Welch (1965-2008)

2008-10-24T11:36:00.000-07:00

Patrick Welch, one of the few people I would like to call mentor, friend as well as one of the greatest instructors I’ve ever had the honor of knowing, has passed away last week.

Normally, I would give a blurb about who he was and how he has impacted the lives and art of everyone he had come in contact with, but my sadness is a sign of how he has impacted mine, so I shall continue on the topic as it’s going with not as many tangents as I usually go off into.

When I first heard the news, I just arrived at work. My boss told me that he “is no longer with us.” I admit I originally thought that he was simply not working for the school.

“Cool, I’ll just drop him a line when I get the chance to see what’s going on, right?”

These were my thoughts going through my head as I was checking in equipment for an employee. Then he [my boss] looked at me in the eye and asked me if I knew what he meant by saying that.

All of a sudden, my world just stopped.

This was the same man that helped define who I am as an artist and an animator. The same man who showed me how I can give all of my characters depth to a point in which I can only refer to them as “My Children” The same man who, when I was feeling unsure about myself and abilities, had enough confidence in me to be that voice that would tell me to “Keep on truckin’”. The same voice who told the department head when I felt embattled during my 2nd stint at portfolio class that I was going on the right track. The same man who told both me and my wife to never give up when times were tough….even when things weren’t going all to well for himself as well.

…and like that, he’s gone.

For the past few days, I felt somber, to say the very least, but I know he wouldn’t want me to continue feeling that way, though he would understand, I guess. There were times which I wanted to cry, but cant and other times where I unexpectedly cried. Emotions are weird like that.

There are a lot of things that I wish I would have done, but it’s not the time to regret. It’s time to move with it as opposed to moving on from it, as a friend once said in his blog entry. It makes all of the sense in the world, because moving on is a lesson in futility….and I never want to move on, anyway. I’m happy moving along with it. We all should do it.

In remembrance of him, I will do three things…maybe more…I don’t know.

1.) Being that he’s well known for his facial hair, I have decided to grow out my sideburns as he had it when I first met him. It may be the most petty of the three, but it’s of sentimental value. I also know that I may slip up while shaving, therefore messing it up, but if I can keep it up as long as possible, it’s cool by my standards.

2.) I’m going to draw a remembrance drawing for him…not sure what I’m going to do with it, if anything at all. It’s just something that I feel that I need to do.

3.) And this is something that I encourage everyone to do, by the way:

You see, Patrick loved drawing pictures for his twin sons, Ben and Alex to color. Right now, this is what they miss most, aside from the obvious. No one else in the family can draw like him, so they’re forced to make do. So as a way for his students and those who wish to give their condolences, there is a drive for drawings. This will help them out a lot.

The Pages should be simply drawn, so they can color them in and add images in the blank spaces. They particularly like trains, cars, planes, and other modes of transport; rainforest scenes; the ocean; insects; and animals of all types, especially kittens and mice. (Alex thinks he’s a kitten. Ben thinks he’s a mouse.)

Of course they can be combined, like a frog flying a plane. (Something Patrick has recently drawn for ben, who loves tree frogs.) Having their names in the image (like having a mouse labeled Ben or a kitten labeled Alex) is also something he would do for them.

For those of you that knew him, you may draw a likeness of him so they can remember him. Just make sure that whatever you draw is absolutely for kids. Nothing grim or ironic whatsoever.

If you want to participate, as I will…being that it’s the least I can do for him, let me know and I can have it sent over to them on your behalf.

…Thanks, Patrick. I’m forever grateful and will miss you.

Mr. Burley takes a wife. (Long read...semi-rant inside.)

2008-10-11T14:46:00.000-07:00

Now, before I begin, I would like to say this to those who I've invited...Claiming that they would not miss it for the world, yet no-call-no-RSVP-no-showed.

A little over four years ago, I have decided to throw a birthday get-together for myself at Navy Pier. There was nothing really special about it aside from the invitations I had made. Everyone paid for their own food, beverages, etc. It actually was more of a social outing more than anything, but I just wanted to enjoy the company of friends on a huge night on the town in which I aptly called a "raid". There were people that said that they couldn't make it due to either finals or whatever they had going on in their world...and it was ok. However, there were those who said they would show and wouldn't miss it.

Bottom line is that absolutely no one showed and I wound up taking myself to some restaurant, ate some wings and had a bottle of beer. Hands down, one of the most depressing days in my life.

Fast forward to exactly one week ago from this very date: Saturday, October 4, 2008. This was the day of my wedding reception. I have sent out invites to everyone I felt closest to, being that most of the people that were in attendance were complete strangers, it would have been of some comfort to have a few familiar faces in the crowd of well-wishers. So, I've announced it, sent invitations (both online via email and traditionally, being that my in-laws took their time to get them out.) Hell, I've even corresponded with you regarding the time, date, and place of the event, again, some people who couldn't make it have at least told me that they wouldn't be able to do so and in my books, that's fine because at least I know about it and know that I can rely on someone to at least let me know they couldn't make it. What irks me is that those of you that said you're going to make it, has the information, and even responded to me regarding the event, did not show up nor give any reason at all why you couldn't neither before nor afterward. I admit, at first, I was livid about it.

Then I thought about it for some time and realized something...

I shouldn't expect to rely on people although they can (or rather could--past tense) rely on me and I really shouldn't be as trusting. It may seem pessimistic and bleak for me to say this, but it's true and would yield me far less disappointments in the long run. (I really do not like to be disappointed at all, as you can tell.) So I'm neither as mad as I was nor glad by any sense of the word, now I'm just more cautious from now on about trustworthiness and respect. Out of respect, I will not call anyone out at all, though those that wish to make themselves known can do so by all means. Or address this with me privately. Or not address this with me at all. I'm perfectly fine with any of these.

Now for those that have shown up from my list...all four of them...out of 12... (as well as the two from hers), I appreciate your attendance very greatly.

Now that's out of the way, I would like to formally announce that yes, I am now a married man. On Friday, October 3, 2008, Andrea and I tied the knot at a small, courtroom ceremony, where those in attendance included her parents, my mom, and my best man, Quincy...(aside from the judge, of course.) We spent the next day at the banquet hall for our reception where we completely devoured the cake. ("Screw tradition," we say "...HAHAHA!!")

We were up since 3 am that day and there were ignorant as hell kids all over the place screaming and hollering, especially during the 1st dance...which pissed both of us off to no end considering the fact that we made it clear (or so we thought) that we didn't want any kids at the reception. Mind you, out of all the kids there, only two were well-behaved. Her cousin and my niece.

It's not that we don't like any kids whatsoever. It's just the bad ones that gets on our last good nerve. The good ones are actually VERY hard to find, apparently. Maybe it was their way of telling us that we should have some of our own. Doesn't matter... it ain't gonna happen at all, our line ends here. I'm through raising kids (my siblings and my niece is it for me.) and she doesn't want to go through that hell either. So that's that. I can continue on the topic later if you want, but be prepared for a long conversation. Moving on...

The meal was ok at best and "blah", for lack of a better term, at worst. The desert was awesome, though. The DJ, however just kept playing music we didn't want played louder and louder....so loud that in order for anyone to talk, they had to scream at the top of their lungs. And being that we were seated closest to the DJ table, it made things worse.

After that ordeal, we decided to take a couple of days to go away to this classy (to us, anyway) hotel in the burbs. We dodged a lot of goose turds, ate out, and just relaxed while not worrying about anything for once. Our spines loved the bed and kinda wept when we had to check out.

All in all, this was our week to enjoy, and we enjoyed it. For those of you that are picture mongers, we may be tempted as they become available.

Till next time kids!

Only 4 days (and some change) left as a single man

2008-09-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

...yipe.

WIP

2008-08-12T04:43:00.000-07:00

Recently, I've been on this Flash kick. Here's a current WIP of what I've been doing so far. Feel free to choose a color scheme or suggest another option. This guy here is Paradox. He is neither angel nor devil, though he appears as both. His mission is to maintain the great balance among all things in order to keep the universe stable. He actually started as a good luck charm drawing I've done on the back of a receipt when I was working for Blockbuster and it just...evolved from there.

More to come, being I have many on the pipeline. I'm all over the place.

Knowledge

2008-08-08T04:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was helping one of my co-workers with an issue regarding a walk cycle. All of a sudden, I was thinking to myself about my time as a teacher's assistant for animation class. I've always had this sort of internal debate regarding whether or not I should go that path. I know that being a teacher is hard work and requires a lot of patience for the infamous salary (Which I really don't care about right now. All that matters is that it pays a LOT more than I'm getting paid now, but that's a different story/rant), but I get this feeling that I'm opening some door for someone, so to speak.

I hope that I'm not sounding like some egotistic jerk, but hey if I have knowledge I share it. In fact, I think we should all do it. However, right now, I'm more content on soaking up knowledge in the art world and applying it more than anything.

Anyway, I'm just babbling away. Off to work.

Wedding stuffs 8-2-08

2008-08-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

So we (We being myself, Andrea[my fiance], and her dad) just got back from MW tux where me and the ol' man got fitted. Quincy [My best man] was going to show up, but he got bogged down at work and was unable to attend. I'll call him in the morning to let him know about the fitting details. Interestingly enough, the fitting deadline for all those in the party is my birthday. So I have the task of lighting the proverbial fire under their asses. Fun fun indeed.

In other news, we've decided on the rings and where we're gonna spend the honeymoon. We're not going far at all...nothing exotic, being that cash is tight. Just out of the area for a few days. The venue has been decided (county building for the ceremony on Oct. 3rd and a banquet hall on the 4th). So for those keeping score, all that's left is her dress, invitations (which we're going to personally do), tuxes for everybody in the groom's party, payment of the rings, and the hotel. I'm actually freaking out sorta over the last two because money's already tight as it is and with bills piling, rent, food, and whatever whatever. My personal budget can't really hold that much more. Andrea says I shouldn't worry and yeah, I shouldn't, but I have the habit of feeling uneasy about something, especially of this magnitude, until all of the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed.

So with all that being said, I have a proposition for all of you. Those who contribute to the wedding, be it by cash or gift (preferably at our registry at the Marriott, our hotel of choice) will get a lovely custom commission piece from yours truly as a "Thank you" gift. This gift will match the value of whatever you contribute according to my price point. Consider it opening my commissions to the general public.

Anyway, if you're in, just email me or message me.

I'm tired, so, I'll end this post here. Till we meet again, kiddies. :)