Lord, I was born a Ramblin' Man

I should start off by saying that I'm moving back to LA. San Diego has been more than kind to me for the duration of my stay but I feel it's time to reconnect with my roots. That, and the fact that people from San Diego are really zombie-robot-vikings that feed on the innocence and decency of society... Hmm, it's a wonder it didn't work out between us.

I've also started a new sketch book so I figured that I'd start with some basics to get into the mood. Sometimes I feel that dimming the lights and playing an Al Green record really gets the fire burning between my sketchbook and I. But for those who just want to get into the down and dirty, there are always hands...



... followed by more hands


And finally, my San Antonio Spurs are down 0-2 in a best-of-seven series against the LA Lakers (and yes I do live in LA, and yes I do hate the Lakers). So here's an oldy but a goody in hope they start making a series out of it. GO SPURS GO!

The time is near

Pitches so close, I can taste 'em... Hooray!!

(sing along) What if Saaatan waaaas one of uuuuus

Well, first off I should state that the casting for The Mole is indeed complete, and considering the fact that I had not received a call, it's probably safe to assume that I was not chosen to participate. I'm not bitter and am confident in the fact that the producers and hi-level execs had not made, nor will ever make a mistake in their casting decisions.

So let us move on and see what's on tap. I've been fairly busy re-working my portfolio so I haven't had time to update as often I as I'd like. I've also had to rescan some things as a result of a malfunctioned flash stick. I kind of, sort of, may or may not had it on me while I went surfing...

...Soooo I finally got this piece colored although I may still go back and add some blood splatters and perhaps dirty it up a bit. Overall though I'm mighty pleased with its appearance.

My 14th personality has problems


And here's a quick sketch of a toker gettin' busted because the devil above told me to draw it.

Beardless and Randomness

Well the beard has been cut once more, but like Sampson, the true vigor lies within my long, flowing black locks... All hail the mighty 'do.

Any who, much randomness has occurred since last we spoke. With destiny putting a damper on my career goals and you know, my aspirations and what not, I've decided to broaden the window of opportunity. It's become a very large window to say the least. Some of you may remember the short lived reality tv show, "The Mole" from the earlier part of the decade. Well it just so happens that they recently had an open cast call in San Diego, so I figured, why the hell not...

40 min of footage + 1 night of editing=


I wanted several more shots to be included but overall I'm pretty pleased with the way it has turned out, all considering. Thank God for iMovie; I used Final Cut to upload the clips but since I don't have the software I had to sneak into Art Institute of San Diego to use it. Unfortunately their hours suck and I had to leave early but not before I converted all of the clips into quicktime movie files. Then I just put it all together in iMovie which is practically retards' Final Cut Pro. Duuhhh, thanks Apple, you're the bestest!

Well I just want to say that trying to draw after a long trip sucks ass! It's as if I need a vacation from taking a vacation. Hmmm, that's actually not a bad idea...

...Let's see; first I'd need a horribly drawn pretty girl...


...and possibly one more for good measure...


...and then maybe Satan could emerge out of some guy for no apparent reason!!


I'll try to paint this one and post it back real quick like.

Panama trip 'n B-Day

Well long story short: Went to Panama, surfed a lot, turned 24 years old today, aaand Kubrick says hi...Now for the pics.

View from our Panama City hotel


Me


Me again


Kinda glad I hadn't caught this one


Some cool Israeli people we met. The front and middle guys on the left are my younger and older brothers, respectively. It so happens that the guy in the middle is also named Tal.


I caught this 25 lb. yellow-fin tuna with my bear hands





Drew this in Panama...


...After which I drew this; Best birthday ever

Pink is the new Black II

Well, I should first start off and say that the funeral service for Arthur Yeh was quite satisfying and very necessary. Although it saddens me to think of Arthur's untimely death, I can't help but smile when I think of all the times we hung out in the animation lab.

I should note that I'm leaving for panama tonight and will be back Jan. 11. I'll try to post in Panama but I'm not making any promises. I should also note that currently, the air in Panama is a balmy 88 degrees and the water, a relaxing 82 degrees; just making sure you guys understand the horrible conditions in which I will suffer for the next month or so...Aaand now for more random art that is unrelated to my previously unread rant.



And for those who don't know, this is what I look like now:

...

By now some of you have been informed of the recent tragic death of our fallen comrade, Arthur Yeh. He was slain in a car accident on Thursday morning. He was only 26 years old.

But what I somber over is not Arthur's death, but rather the absence of his life which has brought joy to so many around him, including myself. I hate to think that I will never see him or hear his voice ever again. When I think of him now, a smile envelopes my face, yet my heart weeps. My computer screen is a blur due to tears forming around my eyes...I still can't believe he's gone.

What I miss most about Arthur is his calm demeanor and whimsical humor amongst other things. You could be in a room with him and not even notice his presence...Just an aura of comfort that followed him everywhere he went. He was humble, and very private, but out of his own world he was possibly the kindest person I've ever met. I guess I'm trying to say that Arthur was nothing like me; and that's what I appreciated most about him.

Through many days and nights sullied away together within the animation department, I remember Arthur's favorite anecdote between us went as such:

I had taken Cartooning with Joe Forkan. Arthur wasn't in the class, but would constantly attend so we sat together as if he had been enrolled. One day a comic project was due and I realized that one of the panels had about 70% negative space. After laughing hysterically at my dilemma, Arthur suggested that I throw some kites in to take up the space. I figured it's probably better than nothing and did so...Joe ripped me a new ass hole on the project and actually commented on the kites saying "...and then you've got these kites over here and, uhh, I don't even know why they're there..."

I don't remember what the comic was about, I have no idea what grade I got, but I'll always remember looking at Arthur and blaming him for it all while we laughed uncontrollably as my project was verbally abused. Now I think back to that moment as another negative space fills my life; a void created due to a friend departed. And I keep hearing Arthur say "Just put some kites in there" as my eyes begin to well up once more..."Kites" he said.

I wish I had seen him once more before his death. I wish I had more time to know him better. But most of all I wish I had a chance to tell him exactly what I've just told you. It's unfortunate that one never really gets to express oneself to a friend until they've passed away. I offer my condolences to his family and close friends and anybody else that had the pleasure of knowing Arthur Yeh. I apologize for the lack of crude jokes and vulgar wit on this post. And if you have anything to share, please don't hesitate to leave a comment no matter how well you knew Arthur. Rest in Peace Arthur Yeh.

Matthyuki wed itself and John, Krisalufski?

So it's been a while, and I still don't have a scanner, and I'm totally flakey on this blog. On the bright side though I've moved to another place within San Diego and am now staying with a beloved, refugee Serbian family...Seriously.

And one more thing before we get to some Johnny K lovin'. Huge congrats to Matthyuki on their official unification in matrimony last week. I would have liked to be there but I had a prior engagement of sitting nude in front of the mirror (life drawing classes are a bitch to find). Anyways, may your newly found amorous devotion acquire you the heavenly joys not fathomed by those unloved.

Recently I made a trip out to LA for the First Annual Animation Festival. There, I finally met the wonderous character designer for Galaxy High School, John K...Oh, and he did some off beat thing with a dog and cat and, well, that's not really important right now. He did however check out my sketch book, but it was after our chance meeting though that I've realized that I made a huge ass of myself (perhaps not surprising to many of you). Judge for yourself:

Me love John K long time

I'm not Japanese, but I'll learn

You know, I woke about a month ago and I thought to myself, "if my Japanese ancestors were to see me today, it would bring great dishonor and misfortune to our family". And that's when it hit me: looking Japanese was much easier than actually, you know, "adhering to the culture" and so forth. Ahhhhh the looks I've received over the past month have been priceless; I walked past a little girl and her mom when the little girl looks up at me and screams out "WHOA!". Another time I visited my dad as he was reading the paper. He lowered it, took one glance and said "Heee's lost it." I'm sorry but the race a person imitates or how many personalities one has should not determine whether or not one be psychologically unstable...And now a word from my sponsor:

Playing in theatres nowhere: Her family killed by the mob; her life destroyed in 12/100th of a second. Iro Surasaki is..."Blood Geisha"


Let's see, what's in the news? Hey has anyone heard about those new scrolls they found in Japan? They're saying they're as long and as historically important as the Dead Sea Scrolls. It's an absolutely hypnotizing story really. I managed to find a piece of one of the scrolls online and thought I'd be cool to share.

Huh, that finely tuned courageous samurai warrior, practically bursting at the seams with masculinity, looks awfully familiar


Finally I'd like to say, Merry Halloween everyone!! Tal's Halloween Safety Tip #43: And remeber kids, if a strange man (especially one pretending to be Japanese) offers you some candy, take it. One can never have too much candy on Halloween night!