Well it's that time of the year again. Out with the old and in with the new.

Though here it will be just more new.

I have tried to move everything into new folders in my gallery and clear out some of the clutter. I hope this makes it easy for people.

That is about it for now.

END OF LINE

Couple of things going on this year. Getting in shape. Working more to pay off debt. Amping up for cons and hopefuly a job.

The Interview

Or

Cliché' Title



I have had many job interviews within my short life. From city high-rises to harbor side warehouses, none have been as devastating as my attempt to enter the world of narrative illustration. Once again, leaving my scenic home of Maine, I jumped into my high performance vehicle and sped off toward my destination.

It was the summer of 2002, in the city of Philadelphia. The heat was unbearable. After traveling 400 miles south, the change in temperature becomes noticeable. I parked my truck downtown and headed toward the city's convention center. I was soon confronted by Darth Vader and Pikachu, their figures distorted and strange to me. This Sith lord stood about a foot shorter than his movie counterpart, and looked as if he had eaten one to many chili dogs, while the famous yellow rodent smelled of booze. It was apparent that the geeks were in full attendance.

I moved past the line of comic book fan ilk waiting in line, and walked straight to the ticket counter to receive a free VIP pass courtesy of a close friend. Once I had my ticket, I walked through the convention's double doors. A blast of color and sound waved over me as I entered. Superman flew through the air on banners hung high, as a twenty foot statue of Batman guarded the floor below. Vendors, representing comic companies from all over the United Sates, stood everywhere. Their booths raised high into the air, decorated extravagantly with the characters and images that had brought them fame. Superheroes, Villains, and cute dead things peered down at me, watching my every move as I passed.

I made my way past merchants selling the latest issues of Danger Girl. I dodged greasy, sweat coated hands as overweight fan boys reached for this scantily clad eye candy. Finally after I had made my way past the gauntlet of grubby mitts, I laid eyes on upon my ultimate goal, Ninja Girl Comics. There seemed to be some divine power illuminating my way as I approached, though it could have been the smell of stale cheetoes and B.O. emanating from those around me altering my perceptions. My hands slowly started to perspire making my portfolio slip within my grasp.

As I got closer to the booth, stand ups featuring the lead character for which the company pulls its name, Ninja Girl, assaulted my eyes with frozen poses of martial arts suspiciously bent over in "battle poses." "Can I help you?", a voice called out from behind the counter. A wave of embarrassment rushed to my face; no doubt the woman questioning me had seen me staring into the cleavage of this two dimensional sex symbol. "uhh uhh umm y.. yess yes. I was wondering if I could be set up for an interview?" I was soon relieved from my awkwardness as the girl smiled and in an enthusiastic tone acknowledged my request. "Sure!" she said.

I was led behind the counter into the booth where the interviews mysteriously take place. It was a simple cubical set up on the convention floor with one side was left open so that passers by could look in upon whoever was inside, and likewise so that anyone inside could watch for potential customers. I was left waiting for a short time, so I reviewed my portfolio, going over everything I would say. I was confident in my abilities as an artist, and so I imagined myself shaking hands with the head of the company while people cheered all around me. Soon after this mental game playing, the lead artist for Ninja Girl comics entered the cubical. "Hello!" I said with my hand outstretched. He briskly walked in and sat down, ignoring my hand. "Let me see your stuff" he said. I handed him my portfolio, hoping he would not notice the stains of sweat from hands.

"What I am going to do is look through the entire portfolio. I will then go back to the beginning and tell you what I think page by page." I nodded as this was normal for editors and fellow comic artists to do. He cracked open my portfolio and quickly scanned over the pages. It was as if he were turning the pages of a flip book. My character's faces flew past my sight. Their expressions distorted and blurred as they seemed to cry out and were quickly whisked away under the next page to fall on top of it. The entire "viewing" of the portfolio seemed to take only a few seconds, what followed would seem to last for a life time.

"What is it you would say you are trying to do with this portfolio?" he said as he shut the portfolio and set it down on the table adjacent to him. "Well I am trying to become a penciler for your company, and fulfill my dream to be a comic book artist." He nodded with every word as I said them. At the end of my explanation it seemed to me that he had stood up and produced a dagger from his pressed tweed jacket and stabbed me in the face. In reality he had only said the one sentence no artist should hear. "Not with this portfolio!" he chuckled. "In fact, I would say by looking at your portfolio you were trying opposite of that." I sat there, suddenly very aware of my surroundings. There was a small gathering of people near the open side of the cubical watching this execution take place. The cute girl who had so innocently escorted me to this whipping tree, stood just a few feet away, watching us with a cruel "Yeah. He's right", smile on her face.

I felt sick. I felt as if the past two years of my life had been a waste of time and money. Everything I had worked so hard for was flattened and destroyed in all but a few seconds. I felt naked and alone. Everyone was staring at me as if I should have known better. "Is there anything I can work on? Anything I can improve upon?" I stammered. My voice had no wind to it. I tried to force it out but I came out sounding like a gerbil choking on its food pellets.

"What you could honestly do to improve this portfolio is burn it." He said in a gruff tone. Suddenly my shame turned to anger as he suggested such a thing. "If you want my personal opinion…" I cut him off before he could finish his sentence. "No, I do not" I quickly stood up and grabbed my work from the table. I stood there with my hand outstretched toward him again. "Thank you for your time" I said waiting for him to shake my hand. He said nothing as he crossed his arms staring up at me with a careless expression on his face. I lowered my hand and pushed my way out of the cubical and out into the mob of people.

I'm alive!!! really. wow last post was september!!! geeeze.

I thank all who comented on my work. I will reply to you all and such!

Thank you all!!!

Well whats new...

In about 20 days ill be 24.. I'm not looking forward to it. I do not like the premise of getting older. I have foreseen that I will be checking out of life at the age of 30 due to a dream i have been having for the past 15 years. So getting closer to 30 is not something i enjoy. Call me weird or superstitious but hey.. I've read plenty of stories of people who dreamt their deaths and it happened. 0_0

Beeeh. At least ill skip all that stuff like dealing with kids and trying to get a house. nuts to that.

Live fast and die young! Or at least in my case Sleep most of your life away and die crazy and silver haired. Unnngh thats another thing. I'm 23 and i have ALOT of grey hair?? yikes.. by 30 ill have all silver hair! yikes. Bah not like I'm trying to impress anyone anyway.

Art is going good. Working on some projects. Those are coming along. I'll hope to post them soon. It seems one of my pics was removed by this site. Seems my nude Noodle from the Gorillaz was deemed in violation of some rules. I didn't know a tasteful nude of a of age women was offensive. It seems the deemed the character "to young" even though the creator of the character has her of the age of 18 now. Makes me think about getting my own site again. though I don't think I would have nearly as much traffic as I do now.. *chirp chrip chrip* J/k 1300 hits is Waaaaaaaaaay more then i had when i had my own site. i think i had like maybe... 13 hits the entire time it was up. (thanks mom)