King of Murals

Murals are, in my opinion, very impressive. All art is, of course, but envisioning and correctly proportioning art on the side of a building is a skill that would make any artist green with envy. Which makes Eduardo Kobra, Brazilian artist, a rare breed. Not only can this dude create said massive murals, he does it in solid shapes of colors.

Kobra takes famous photographs, people, and landmarks, and while still maintaining realism, turns these well known images into a one of a kind rainbow. It’s like looking at them through a kaleidoscope.

And not only does Kobra create this unique style of art on his own; he does it across the side of buildings. I might not be an expert on murals, but I think it’s safe to say this guy is pretty unique.

This is his official website- eduardokobra.com- and for those lucky people who decided to take Spanish in high school, or those who speak it at home, I’m sure it’s full of cool information. For those like me, who decided not to learn Spanish, and can’t successfully work Google Translate, this website has a bit of info as well;  http://www.streetartbio.com/about-eduardo-kobra-biography

Cinderella, Live

Yes, Cinderella. Maybe your complaining about how old this story is getting. Perhaps it is. But I don’t care, to be honest with you. Don’t worry though, I’m not talking The Disney version. The one I’m talking about isn’t a modern rom-com either.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, which in my opinion is the best version, was first thought up in the 50’s. That’s a hell of a long time for one version to stick around. And maybe it started as a tv musical, but it’s on Broadway too!

Musicals aren’t for everyone, I know, but for those of you who like them, or just like the Cinderella story, I prey you’ve seen this play. If you haven’t, you seriously need to get on that. Whether you watch one of the three movie versions, or see it live, it’s worth your time. I myself am not an avid lover of princess tales, so my insistence that you see it should definitely move the name to your watch list.

And if the theater and the songs don’t draw you in, the costumes and set designs will. It’s colorful and whimsical and one of a kind. Here’s the play’s official website;  www.cinderellaonbroadway.com. If nothing else, stream the latest movie. With Whoopy Goldberg as the queen and Whitney Houston as the fairy godmother, how can you go wrong?

Nobody is Pure Evil

I want to start off by saying this post isn’t me telling you all about criminal psychology. No, this post is all about writing characters. Not just any characters. This is about your antagonist, whether it’s the person your hero owes money to, or the devil himself.

Of course, any advice must be taken with a grain of salt, because your writing is yours and yours alone. I could give a hundred tips over my years of fabricating stories, but right now, I’m talking about one of the things that by far bugs me the most.

Every story needs an antagonist. I’m not telling you to get rid of yours, no matter who or what it is. No, the thing I’m offering today is three things you need to avoid doing when it comes to creating your demon overlord, or evil stepmother, or whoever your Big Bad might be.

#1: The Talking Mannequin.

If your evildoer is actually a mannequin haunting a department store, that’s fine. But if it’s not, make sure it doesn’t seem that way! Too many times have I read books where the antagonist has absolutely no personality. He (let’s be honest, it’s usually a ‘he’) walks around kicking puppies and stealing children’s candy, but he does nothing distinguishing in the process! How boring is that? Make him have a weird laugh. Make him depressed when his friend dies. Make him have an obsession with kitten figurines. If he’s got nothing unique and quirky about him, he doesn’t seem like a real person anymore. It’s no fun reading about a human looking puppet.

#2: The Slobbering Idiot

Please don’t have your villain slobber, because that’s just gross. But also, don’t make him stupid. Just don’t. A villain that’s moronic isn’t much of a villain, is he? If your Big Bad can govern armies, he’s going to notice it when you break in and impersonate his right hand man. If it’s some lady who kidnapped your dog, don’t just switch that dog with another one. Not only is it mean to the second puppy, but it’s also insulting her intelligence. A smart kidnapper is entertaining. It’s more gripping, watching your hero’s struggle to trick her, to always be two steps behind. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be much of a story.

#3: Pure Evil

Like the post name suggests, nobody is born evil. Okay, maybe some people are, but they’re few and far between. If your mannequin is haunting the store, I’m sure he’s got a good reason. Maybe a lady mannequin was destroyed in the incinerator. Maybe the spirit of the dead janitor who never got his pension possessed it. There is always a reason, even for crazy people. The reason might be as simple as avenging a dead parent (which in my opinion happens far too often). But your Big Bad better have a good reason for being so cruel- the foundation of your story depends on it.

 

Dragon Master

Who doesn’t love dragons? Now, I might be a bit of a geek, but unless you’re a princess or a knight, I dare you to tell me you have something against dragons. So there’s no way you can have something against Aelia Petro, who puts a lot of work into making jewelry based off these creatures.

Of course, she makes jewelry based off other animals, but for me at least, it’s the dragons that steal the show. Not many people have the skill to wrangle up a fire breathing serpent and train it to stand still long enough to base something off it, but it seems Petro can.

In all seriousness, I love her pieces, and any fellow artist (or fantasy geek) should give her and her dragons a look. You can find her stuff here- www.artbyaelia.com

 

Pinball in a New Light

There are lots of ways to pass the time, but pinball has become a time honored tradition. It’s not a real arcade without at least one vintage pinball machine, is it? It’s become such a big thing that there are museums dedicated to these classics all across america.

But pinball isnt exactly an art. So why would I bother to talk about it?

Because Alameda’s Pacific Pinball museum has more inside than just pinball. At all times, there are ten huge murals that hang inside, all recreations of pinball back-glass art.

Four talented individuals, Dan Fontes, d’Arci Bruno, Ed Cassel and Eric Kos, have taken images from the back of classic pinball machines, and recreated them on a massive scale. To date, twenty eight different murals have been made, painted on floor to ceiling canvas, with all the exact details the original pieces have.

It really is impossible to describe how big, and how detailed, these works of art are. It’s something you need to experience in person, so if you ever happen to be in the area, it’s definitely worth a visit.

 

If you want more information on Aladema’s pinball museum, hit up their sight;   http://www.pacificpinball.org

 

The Bubble Collector

There are millions of artists making a name for themselves, and one I recently stumbled upon is named Vikram Madan. Madan started out as an engineer in India, but eventually made his way to Washington State. It’s impossible for anyone but Madan to tell you what sparked his career change, but he turned his gaze to an art college in Seattle.

This turned out to be a pretty good move, in my opinion, because his stuff took off, and now he’s living the life every aspiring artist hopes for. Madan has painted murals, displayed his art in galleries around Seattle, and three years ago, published his first book, “The Bubble Collector”.

So maybe this guy isn’t ‘just beginning’, and already has his tiny pedestal in the art community, but his talents are worth mentioning. The people who hand out the Moonbeam Children’s Award think so to; they granted it to Madan in 2013 for his book’s poetry . Whether you’ve heard of said award or not, the fact that he received it only cements the idea that there’s some serious talent there.

Since then, he has published two more books and many more paintings. If you’re into art that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Madan’s art might just be for you.

Unfortunately, I’m broke, and so cannot buy any of his books to provide a tiny sample of his poetry, but if you want to read it, go check it out for yourself! However, his art is something I can provide. If you want to see more, go to his site: http://www.vikrammadan.com