Over There!

I have moved to

http://www.denzelajackson.com

See you there!

My Land

I have been wanting this for a very long time and it has finally happened. My own website is up and running at full speed! This is now my main place of operation to display my best work and to share my thoughts and activity via articles. There are some new conveniences that I can offer to you also! You do not need any type of profile or membership to comment and engage in my posts, you can just write freely. Also, if you would like to send me a direct message, I set up a contact page that will email me directly. Other than a clean presentation and pristine organization, all my activity will stay the same, but just happening at denzelajackson.com!

Thank you to everyone who I get to work with and to everyone that shows my work love.

Thank you Blogger for having provided quality service and hosting my site up to this point.

Highs And Lows

I know this is a common topic but I think that it is something that should be discussed fairly often, because the highs and lows always fluctuate, they don't suddenly stop. What I really like hearing about is how different people deal with their lows and how they bring themselves back up. Self-motivation is one of the most important skills to practice in order to reach high levels of success, so we should help each other when we can.

For me, when I feel a bit down on the art path, I still stay focused and keep the practice up. Although, during this time the work is more uncomfortable. Since I am feeling a bit unsettled, the work reflects that, sometimes it can put more spirit into the picture, or stifle all of it, so that the picture looks lifeless or like a landfill. The feeling is only temporary, so I usually tolerate it and eventually it will dissolve.

I wrote about this before, but I really like looking at the old work of my superior artists, because it makes it clearer that those pictures have already been done by them, and that we all need to go through our growing pains. 

I listen to loads of music. Musicians tell wonderful stories about themselves when they were young, broke, and infamous, and these are fantastic because they share their perseverance. I think it is unfortunate that many visual artists do not tell those kinds of stories. Every personal picture that I create is a small piece of my journey and can be put together like puzzle pieces. This makes the pictures full of life, because they are straight from my mind and heart. It is good for me as the creator, so I recommend anyone who has not done this to experiment with it.

Usually, I share visual art with you, but this time I'd like to honor a different type of artist and a piece of his story:

Growing Pains II by Logic

Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day my friends, thanks for being awesome people! I've got some cool stuff in store and am excited to share it with all of you. Here is a piece of my recent pictures, so here is a carrot for you. =)

If you have any new work out that I have not noticed, please point me in that direction so that I can check it out!

Keep it up and have a good day.

We Need Each Other!

Yes, artistic companionship is something that almost all of us need! To become rejects together and to excel together. Like a second family, taking the blows in learning doesn't feel as bad when we have our fellow artists around and celebrating accomplishments feels way better when we get to share it with others! Sometimes when I go for too long without spending time with other artists, it feels like I am isolated. I know others feel this same thing too so let's keep each others' spirits up!

Secondly, about the team aspect of community. I believe the best projects are made from teams. NOT solo production. I don't see one person being able to outperform a team, unless sleep is not needed. And even then, no. I love seeing creators come together and making big things happen! It gets me really hyped up. So to everyone, let's look out for each other and keep up the good work!

Do Not Laugh At Me

People often laugh at things that they do not understand. I was having a conversation with someone about different career moves that can be made within animation industry and I was laughed at and ridiculed. Not because the things I was saying were jokes, but they were ambitious. I am used to this because I've always said we could do amazing things since I was a kid, but I can still feel it pushing against potential achievements. Therefore, to anyone else out there who has big dreams and want to do great things, you have my faith and encouragement! Not many people have the tenacity to even pursue greatness, so those who do need to stick together and brush the naysayers aside.

Exactly like Newton's Third Law, for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction, this goes way further than just physics, but to our activity as well. If someone does something extraordinary, there will be extraordinary reactions, some will be good and some will be bad.

There are thousands of people who have already done magnificent things! So be your own judge and keep moving forward, and let those who mock validate your achievements!

How I Create A Character Concept

There are a few things I keep in mind when designing a character. I try to bring them to life in a similar way that I think an actor would a role. I imagine the character's life and what it would be like, as if I have become the character. How it would shape me and the setting I'd live in. After I feel comfortable with my new self, I analyze how it would be communicated to others, not only the audience, but anyone else who may work with this character.

Putting yourself into the character's shoes is the emotional connection that can really boost the authenticity of the design and make it more appealing to an audience. The same way we don't feel a deep connection with a brick wall, a flat character will just take up space. No fun. Also, once we are in the spirit of the character, it frees us to experiment and try different ideas, such as clothing, tools, environment, vocabulary, etc. We get to have fun with a new life while making the design so play and make it impactful!

Secondly, communication is essential to reach two groups: the audience, and any others that may work with the character. Obviously, the audience needs to feel, whether it is positive or negative. If it provides people with an emotional response, then it's working well! Other than the audience, such as other artists, the pipeline, or the client, if this design is passed along and they can't grasp the concept, then it is a weak link in the chain. Yikes. If the person receiving the blueprint can't make any sense of it, then how can he work with it, or even make it better?

These are just two of the main things that I strictly keep in my mind when making designs. This is my method for now, but I am always ready to change or add new elements in the future, as I learn, meet superior artists, and taste discovery. Perhaps then I can make a Part II of this! If any of you have specific techniques that you'd like to share, I'd enjoy reading them. =)

Thank you and have a good day!

Keep Drawing: Revealed

When people are trying to explain their views and opinions of art, I like to pay attention because something can be learned from everybody. One of the most common tips seasoned artists share is to simply 'keep drawing.' As long as someone keeps drawing, then the skill will increase. I definitely agree with this, but I think it is being said with such simplicity that people feel unsatisfied with the piece of advice. I have pondered this and think I can explain it further. I'm going to compare it to video games.

A game that many of us are familiar with is Super Smash Bros.(whichever version). If not, then most fighting or FPS games can work. For this comparison, imagine the act of playing the game as drawing. Alrighty, we start playing the game and we are beginners, below average and learning how to get our butts kicked, understandable. It's easy to quickly get up to the average level because we see many average gamers and we can observe all of them. Once we become an average player, then the game gets way funner, because instead of losing all of the time, we win matches too. The game is really fun, so we play it constantly, hang out with our friends, compete and progress. Getting better at the game isn't always intentional, we love it so much that just the act of enjoying it makes us start to perform moves with more efficiency. For example, in Call of Duty, if someone throws a grenade at us, we gained the quick thoughtfulness to throw it back, rather than when we were brand new and didn't think fast enough to do that. If we keep playing the game, eventually, we will become very skilled and able to own whatever room or match we are in. It feels good, but now there are less people to teach us new tricks. We have to create our own method of improvement, henceforth.

Now, in the actual form, being an artist: we ALL have to start as a beginner. Drawing may not be as fun as the pros make it look, but it is easy to improve quickly. The reason is because, as a beginner, we can learn loads from every single person, other beginners are our peers and we can discuss ideas with them. If we keep drawing, we will move up to being a mid-level artist, nice. Being part of the biggest tier is a fun place to be because there are limitless amounts of people to connect, study, and grow with. Now we start receiving praise and don't feel like our work is inferior to everyone's! Being here for a long time... hard work... studying... KEEP...DRAWING...elite status! After making pictures and pictures, thinking "This is the one that will blow people away," we finally start to gain sweet recognition. If we keep up the dedication, things can keep getting better.

How did all this happen? No tricks or formulas other than the simple piece of advice: keep drawing. I remember back, listening to people sharing this and thinking that there must be more, but eventually, I learned otherwise. I hope this helps you all and I look forward to reading whatever you all have to say.

Thank you and have a good day!

Positive Procrastination

Like many things that are typically viewed as negative, they can actually be positive with an optimistic perception. I view procrastination as a tool that can be used in multiple ways. I know it is not productive to play games for many hours, every day. If I do want to do something such as play video games, then instead of slopping down instantly, I can do a couple sketches, maybe for a half of an hour. Then what happens is pretty wonderful! I get into the bliss of drawing and lose the desire to game. I have one other example of this: I had a friend who was trying to be more healthy and whenever the thirst arrived for soda, she would drink two cups of water first, then she would want the soda no longer.

What is your perception? Can you see the PROS of procrastination? Try flipping things around: put off the leisure activities for 30 minutes(or some short time) and see what happens. Perhaps, it will even make the relaxing times more precious. =)

So utilize the TOOL of PROCRASTINATION.

2013 Appreciation

I am an artist for you.

Last year was a wonderful year for me. I was fortunate enough to start it as an artist, only known by family, to having a wide circle of friends and fans that I am able to grow with. Their are countless people that have made 2013 as fantastic as it was, and I would like to honor them:

- Family: The most appreciation goes to my family for supporting and trusting any decision that I decide to make. I know many of my moves can seem unclear to anyone other than myself, but they give me their trust that I am moving in a positive direction. Without them, my path would be unimaginably more difficult. Thank you for being as solid as rocks!

- Friends: Many of my friends didn't know I was an artist until I started releasing my work to the public. When I began showing my pictures to my friends who are not artists, it was a bit racking, because people can react positively and negatively. While both opportunities were seized, the majority has been very kind and encouraging. I knew my work was not good when I first started showing, but art is my destiny and knowing that whatever I drew was going to be displayed really motivated me to improve. When people respond to my pieces, in a good or bad way, big or small, it really inspires me to keep moving forward. Thank you all for being the first audience I get to work for!

- The Panel: This goes for all the people who worked in The Panel and for those who were fans. The show was really helpful to me as an artist and continues to do so as I still contemplate many of the discussions we had. Not only did I learn from our conversations, but I learned about the necessary work required to put together a show such as this one. Also, I have met and made so many excellent friends because of this show. There has to have been 40+ people who I was able to meet for the first time. I'm really glad to have had the experience of the first art-related work team I've been on and will use what I learned henceforth. Thank you all for making the community rich and interesting!

- Stockton ROX: I've just known of this organization for a few months, but have been quite impressed with its accomplishments. And it is very incredible that I have been able to be a small part of it too. We will do some amazing things together and I feel pleasure in knowing that we will be able to watch each other grow. Thank you for the support and for Roxing.

If you are a person who I talk to and we converse, you inspire me. So thank you all for making 2013 spectacular and I am very excited to experience all that will be in 2014. I'm going to continue working as I have been and plan to make you all proud!

I am an artist for you.

Final Fantasy Collab

click for larger view

Monk from Final Fantasy I

This week I joined a mega-collaboration! It's really fun to work together with others, I am looking forward to when we are all finished and get to see our accomplishment. The project is organized by Edward Recinos(http://edtertainer.tumblr.com) and we will be drawing nearly all the characters from all of the Final Fantasy games, and they will be put together when every artist has finished drawing his/her character. There are a few more characters available and nearly anyone can join, so rush to the previous tumblr link and grab yourself a character! I joined the effort later than many others so I had to race through the selections until I got a slot, which I was quite happy about. My character is the Monk, from Final Fantasy I. The earliest version I played was Final Fantasy II so I'm glad to have expanded my knowledge of the series.

There are loads of characters and just as many artists involved in this project and while the concluding picture will be really big, we are each doing a little piece of it. This is a wonderful reminder of how powerful we are when we utilize teamwork! Let's keep up the positive buzz so we can create a richer community.

Thank you again goes to Edward for putting in the time to organize this and giving back the community.

Have a good day. :)

A Kaayla Christmas

I made this for people to enjoy

it was enjoyed upon creation

much like opening a new toy

If I did it again

it would have the same spirit

Although both would remain unique

about how one would feel it

I'm an artist

if I couldn't create

then I would miss this

So I seize holidays

to procreate

and say Merry Christmas!

Genesis of denz

I think the beginning of this story may be similar to many others but I used to only draw Dragon Ball Z! Surprised? Probably not.. Around year 2000, when Toonami introduced me to DBZ, I was hypnotized and would spend much time drawing what I saw from the awesome series and dreaming of the adventures that were taking place. All my drawings revolved around DBZ for many years, so I wanted to show off some of my genesis into the art world:

It took me seven scattered days to finish the one on the right, haha.

This one was done on the day I turned twelve, dedicated!

I thought this one was EXTREMELY cool when I did it.

I didn't want to spend the time to draw Trunks' face, so I hid it behind Gohan's hair=). I still like this one though.

At the time I made these, between 2001 and 2004, I was happy with the results, but now what I am happy about is that I got these out of the way! I enjoy seeing my old work, and I enjoy seeing others' too, so maybe you can show yours off as well. Do it.

I'm not much into fan-art, I only do it on rare occasions, but I don't want to leave you with those pictures as your last thought, so just look at this one more time:

Thank you all and have a good day.

Sometimes I Get High

In the pursuit of a long term goal, we all experience the draining lows and the dizzying highs and one of the most important things to do is stay on the correct path during both seasons. Both states of mind have their way of presenting temptation to wander away, but confronting the situation head-on has always helped me to continue moving forward. 

This may seem cold, but I have found that maintaining a certain amount of indifference is a key to perseverance. Because working alone can feel lonely, having less concern for the effects aids in moving past it. That is a difficult thing to do sometimes because it feels torturous, but this reminds me of a statement made by my favorite comedian:

"Find the torture that you are comfortable with." - Jerry Seinfeld

Let's take notice that I am a visual artist and he is a comedian, these are very different roles, but the path to reaching excellence is so similar. We all get high and we all get low, yet we keep working, how? Each person has to make their own way, and build their own ladder. No person that I look up to can make me them and I cannot make any person looking up to me me. Here are five top tips I use for staying focused:

- When the work is all good, I receive positive energy and I can spend it and flaunt it on some fun activity, until I need to work again. Instead, I reinvest it by putting all the positivity back into the work, to make it better and promote a greater return in the future.

- Love the lows: How can anything be positive, if there are no negatives? I dream of the greener grass when I feel down, I know it is just over the hill and me attaining it is inevitable.

- Surround yourself with what is good for you. Just like food, whatever we put into ourselves, becomes a part of us. If we eat loads of fat, we get fat. If we fill our vision up with other people who are positive, kind, and peaceful, all that becomes a part of us.

- Analyze from the inside and from the outside. When I am judging my performance, I think about it as my own actions, but then I also look at myself as if I were a different person. This simply provides two points of view.

- Always keep in mind that past success is in the past, we have to make new successes to enjoy in the present.

Beautiful Mistakes

I want to share my thoughts about mistakes. The ones I am referring to are not so much having to do with life in general, but those made on the path to success. For me, that is being a great creator. I love what mistakes have provided for me, even when they cause so much headache. I don't intend to do things incorrectly, but I am aware that they are inevitable and help me become a more efficient version of myself.

Here is a specific example: I am a beginner in 3D modelling, so as I am working on it, I know what I am doing may not achieve my desired results, but is necessary to do so I can make grand discoveries. This process can seem frustrating, but it is part of the 10,000 hours. Keeping that in mind, the difficulties can actually become a delight! If what we are doing is uncomfortable, then that may be a sign of growth. Thinking about this reminds me of the movie Meet The Robinsons, by Disney http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396555/. In that story, the main character, Lewis, is an inventor who eventually goes onto create things of magnificence, but during the path, he kept on eating dirt until he was finally able to stand up. The philosophy of embracing mistakes is really displayed in him and his family. Essentially, they throw parties when each other messes things up:

 

I am always aware that I may be making mistakes, but as long as I remember how to handle them, there is no negativity.

CTNX 2013 Summary

Saturday, the 16th, I attended CTN in Burbank, CA, and had a wonderful time! I met so many fantastic artists, it was wild. It would have been difficult to walk around and not be impressed with the work that was being displayed. And not only did the artists' booths look amazing, but many people brought some of their own gallery with them, which was great. Every person I met was kind and offered to show their work and would ask to see others'. There was a pleasant amount of diversity available to the attendees, so I'll give you the run-down, from the beginning:

 We road-tripped from Stockton, CA!

And I saw a 1-pound Snickers on the way...

As I was walking around I saw these on the side of some buildings and learned that there is a team of artists that painted this and paint new pictures here every month, that's pretty wild!

Waiting in line...

10:00 AM, finally entering!

I was instantly smacked in the face with a rich atmosphere of raw and creative talent! It felt like a dream being around so many artists at the same time, these are the same people whose work I view online, but it feels so different in person. It was thick, like I had to squeeze in between all the skill in front of me.

Throughout the convention center there were various areas to observe live work. Here was a station where some artists were showcasing and teaching about traditional animation.

Next to that was another station where a tablet was streaming on a television while various artists took turns working so people could watch.

Just behind those two, was one of my favorite features of the convention: the live model stage. For the entire day, this lady and man would skillfuly hold poses and change costumes for artists to draw them and work side-by-side. I love this! 'Tis a very nice way to approach others, because the work is already out and ready to show around.

This was a surprise to me, and a big one! Here, we got to question Drew Struzan, the artist who has been in the entertainment industry for a very long time, making many iconic pictures that nearly all of us know. The conference was about one hour but mostly open to audience questions, so that was nice. Here are some of his recognizable pieces:

LUNCH

Sean "Cheeks" Galloway had art displayed that I quickly recognized. I have seen his work online but it's nice to see the person. He gave me a quick critique and we talked about one of the stories he did the art for called Pearl of Pandaria! Him online: https://twitter.com/cheeksgalloway

J Scott Campbell is another artist who I immediately wanted to meet. I've seen his work all over online and was delighted to have a brief conversation with him. He told me about his experience in the creation of art before we had the internet as a tool. Him online: http://jscottcampbell.com/

Near the center of the alleys was another staged display of an artist having his work streamed for people to see, while being interviewed at the same time. It was nice to listen to him talk and work simultaneously but I started feeling for him when one of his answers to a question was explaining how difficult it was to focus on the work and questions at the same time!

This was one of my favorite parts of the entire convention. The Z-Brush area was constantly full of 3D artists showcasing the numerous capabilities of the software and providing us with techniques and answers to questions. One of the artists was telling us about his 3D printer that he recently acquired and the models he was able to print with it. They are different colors, because there are different types of materials that can be used for printing. He also told us about certain ways models need to be created so that they have the ability to even be printed. From this, I got the feeling that 3D printing is still infantile and will be getting heavily improved upon in the near future. This was a special thing to witness, because I think 3D printing will be huge. 3D Modeller - Robert Vignone: https://twitter.com/polysculpture

I was really happy to visit this booth! I loved the atmosphere of this area because these folks were particularly nice and relaxed with good conversation. Not only was Chris there but many of his students too, which was very cool because they ranged from beginner to advanced. This was helpful to passers because they could have conversations from various perspectives. Chris also provided me with a nice critique. Him online: http://www.chrisoatley.com

I had spent so much time walking and talking that I didn't even know it was dark outside, so I said my goodbyes to the people, for the time being, and shoved off.

As I was leaving, my buzz was still really high with the spirit of creation. I am very glad that I started attending CTN and plan to continue as long as I can. Overall, my favorite part was simply meeting other artists, we all may be on similar paths, but it seems like we are far apart when we don't work together and communicate. I will still be contemplating my attendance, but for now, what I learned from this convention just backs my belief about how important commune is. Work becomes loads easier when we are together. I am thankful to all the people who put this wonderful event together and to all the people who attended and made it how awesome it was! I urge anyone who can to be a part of CTN 2014 =). Now back to work.

CTNX Bound

This weekend I will be attending Creative Talent Network Expo(CTNX) in Los Angeles, an art convention with emphasis on illustration and animation! This will be the first convention I make appearance at and have high hopes. Taking my first steps into the entertainment industry, mingling with other dedicated creatives, and being able to add my own ideas to the mix has me really psyched to jump into some work. Nearly all that I have done has been a solo effort and I constantly dream about being in a creative-rich environment, not only to get some fantastic work done, but just to enjoy the company and conversation of other open-minded and innovative people.

I have a very small amount of friends who are artists, so I get very excited whenever I get a chance to meet new ones. Not to just conversate similar interests, but to feed the flames of ambition. Sometimes, when I work alone for a long time, I get the feeling that no matter how skilled I get, nothing will change or it gets difficult to gauge how much I am improving. I absorb that which is around me, so if I am in a lazy and apathetic environment, I will be spending all my time in pursuit of greener grass.

So let's get juiced up for CTNX and I look forward to all the wonderful people I see there, and to those I meet in the future!

I'll be posting my activity via Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/denzelajackson

The Burden of Triumph

As I progress up through the art community, the list of people I look up to increases. I will eventually look to them as equals and we can work side-by-side, but another feeling increases with that: respect. In the past, I understood that people were more skilled than me, but I didn't fathom the path between us. I didn't understand all the focus required to reach the level they were at, which made sense because I had not found it. But I'm travelling it now, and like a safari-tour, I see all the beasts that need to be slain to achieve high-level work. So as I approach my seniors, my admiration grows because I am discovering all that they have accomplished. It seems ironic, but the closer I get to equivalency, the larger my field of view is.

While we all may be producing our own ideas, often someone else's idea is so powerful and agreed upon that I feel the longing to manifest my version of the concept. This is a way I show admiration to other artists, by enjoying their ideas enough to use them in my own work, thus, like a chain, the rich idea passes through the community more than once and provides multiple interpretations. I have made nice friends this way too because we both contemplate similar things, so by no surprise, there is more we have in common and enjoy to discuss. Therefore, I encourage you to also interpret other people's work and if it has impact and meaning, create your own version of it. This sounds like fan-art, but I am referring to the deeper meaning of people's work, rather than a specific visual design. With an idea, it needs to be analyzed and reproduced with a new vision.

Like all forms of art, many people put themselves into their work, so informing people that you like what they put out and what is good about it is a really nice thing to do, but too much sugar can make a person sick. If I only received compliments, then my mind would be saturated with the interpretation that my work is already pleasing everyone! Criticism is worth much more than compliments to the person who seeks improvement. When I receive 3 out of 10 positive reviews on a piece of my work, then that is 3 reasons to keep up the good work and 7 reasons to work harder. So I love having my flaws pointed-out and for those that do that for me, thank you very much.

Review: three ways to breath more respect into the community is to take the time to realize what superiors have accomplished, really observe other people's work(give credit where credit is due), and be honest in critiques. Hard work pays off.

Skill is undeniable.

The Style of Greatness

I use to want to draw like everyone else. It seems silly but I would get 

that urge quite often. It was uncontrollable and I just didn't act on it, 

because the only thing I can do properly is be me. Coincidentally, artists 

discover similar techniques and methods which may look similar, but each 

person has a lovely interpretation and understanding of things. And when 

reality enters our thoughts and comes back out in a medium, the world gets 

more colorful. We can all add to our home's wonder. That is why I believe 

staying true to yourself is important.

As for abilities of different styles, I found that different methods of 

rendering can sway the subject towards a certain feel. For example: it would 

be difficult to draw figures with thick and black lineart and maintain a 

regal and sophisticated result. On the other hand, it may not be practical 

to render cover-quality work for the small panels of a graphic novel. What 

do you think of style limitations?

I'll write again: each person can add their personal value to the world and 

make it more beautiful. Maybe one of us will stumble upon something wild and 

become the setter of a fresh style! One of my favorite artists is Jace 

Wallace (http://wakkawa.iseenothing.com/ or http://www.jace-

wallace.deviantart.com), he draws the female form so well, it is crazy. But 

even if someone put all their effort into making their work look like his, 

if people want Jace Wallace, they will look for Jace Wallace, not the 

imitation version. 

From time to time, I still see another person's work and think to myself, 

"Damn, that distinct style is really cool and easily recognizable as his/her 

own." But I will my feelings to change, instead of envy and longing, I get 

excited looking forward to how unique my own style will be since I will not 

imitate anyone else. 

Don't pretend to be something you're not, just be who you are, that's what's 

really cool. - David Starsky

Have a good day!

Coffee and Teams

I love coffee, but something rather unfortunate happened recently:

     I lost a member of Team, this is Marylin and I accidentally knocked

her over and created a crack. Sometimes teams separate, it can be because

the team has completed its goal and no longer needs to be in alliance, or

for disagreements. Regardless, hopefully the members can remain friends.

As for me, I really enjoy teamwork. It seems strange, but sometimes

completing  big accomplishments and receiving praise as a team feels better

than doing it all solo. I'm not on any art-related team right now but I am,

so very much, looking forward to it in the future. Stuck in a studio with a

group of artists and a goal...sounds fantastic. Until then, I will remain in

my dungeon, continuing the pursuit.

     I am aware that, in my time, I'll be part of numerous teams but, right now,

the one I am most excited about is the one in which I will commence my giant

library of cutting-edge animation.

New Introduction: This is Miss Smith, replacing Marylin.

Have a good day!