Preview: Surreal Desert Landscape Airship Painting

Work on this piece is finally winding down. I am hoping to have this one done, imaged and shipped off by December 21st if at all possible. I would *really* have liked to have had giclees of this one ready before holiday season came around, but it was just not going to work out that way.

I have a book cover illustration (for a favorite author) to wrap up by early January (which will be yet another addition to the airships series), and a holiday trip to visit family to squeeze in there as well - so I am working away until the late hours of the morning on this, in between all the shipping duties and other such things.

Anyway, here are the latest preview shots of the upcoming painting. Clicking on any of these will take you to my flickr account where you can view larger images.

sphynx and airship shown in panned out view.
Painting of baskets and ropes has begun.


closeup view of baskets on underbelly.


Closeup view of the gondola.
The lanterns within the archway are about
the size of the eye of a needle.


panned out view of the gondola

Work in Progress

This is a work in progress - oil on wood panel. You can see a closeup of the airship here: here

The airship within is done from an earlier engraving; I wanted to see how "the Sabiku" would look in something other than straight lineart, and I am glad I decided to do so. I have come to really like this piece.

It has taken me a while to do; An extended winter (and the resulting lack of ventilation), made me lean on the acrylics for quite a while, and I found that when I returned to oil panting I had developed a lot of habits and methods that were not oil-friendly.

Not that I am nearing the finish line, everything is finally coming together, I think I have at least some of my technique back.

If you have seen my art over the past year, you might say to yourself: "Wow - he really loves airships"...

Though I do love working in this strange fiction/science fiction/fantasy vein, and though the airships do make for a good mode by which to explore these worlds and a decent centerpiece - it was not my intention at first to do so many of them.

I often realized that my subject matter, styles, media and the like were all over the place: I might work digital one day, paints another, an engraving on another day, a sculpture, a wooden box, some brass trinket - one week would be horror pieces, another would be figurative art, another would be monsters, another devices - and my styles varied in more ways than media or subject matter.

This may sound interesting to some... but galleries however like unified themes when it comes to shows, and so do publishers.

Most anyone who saw a collection of my past work, had none of it been signed, would think it was a collection from at least twenty different artists... which I suppose, in some fashion or another I am... though I am not nearly as fragmented as I was several years ago.


And since I had a number of people writing me, wondering if I could do a commissioned painting of an airship in similar style to the one that started this all off, I decided, spur of the moment, that selling those commissions would be a good way to make it home for a family emergency - they all sold within an hour or two of putting them up, and I have been working on them ever since.

Having an anticipated collection and theme laid out for me is nice, because forces me to stay somewhat on target, but it also forces me to use my imagination and improvise in ways other than technique, media, style, theme, message...

It has been interesting - but I'll be glad when the last of these are done.

BTW - If you like this one as it is, I made 10 prints, because Beth likes this one as it is. There will only be 10 - I suppose that makes them very limited. The rest will be based on the finished piece. I don't want them around by the time the piece is finished, so I am also pricing these 10x10 signed metallic prints at $22 - and to add, their shipping is free with the purchase of any other item in our store.

You can grab one over on our Etsy Store.

A glimpse

This is a rather unique print, printed at 12x12 instead of 24x24 - If it hasn't sold, it is available here

It is the proof from the printers, one of four artist's prints. Two are this size, two are normal size.



It is also, were I to put preferred darkness and saturation on a percentage, at about 98% perfect - slightly lighter than I want the prints to be, but pretty much unnoticeably so.

These test prints are all a part of the process, and I am told that these slightly different from the others, being a part of my working process, are probably worth more to some people.

This is my first time stretching and mounting one of these prints on my own. I hand made the stretcher bars that hold it, though I could probably have picked up 12 inch stretcher bars for 79 cents a piece - it was late night, and I rather like making things by hand anyway when I can.



I am trying things like these, because right now, my markup is really low and I still feel guilty for not being able to make things more affordable for those who like my work.

So, I am trying new ways to cut costs: Stretching and mounting these through hobby lobby or someplace similar saves money (hence the price cuts over the past month). Not only did the printers charge me a good deal for the stretching and mounting, but the shipping gets really expensive when shipping a box that is 40-some inches by 20-some by 3.

Stretching them myself saves a little more still, which allowed me to reduce prices again this last week - and I went one further by offering unstretched prints on our etsy store for "The Rescue". That way people can purchase these for less, and - rather than paying $30+ for shipping, can pay $6 for shipping, and $24 at hobby lobby for stretching, or $8 to stretch it themselves.

If such proves to be popular, I will probably do the same for every giclee.

Hello

I am Myke Amend - strange fiction, horror, fantasy fine-art illustrator, and co-archivist for the Miskatonic Archive

This is my first blogger post - well, not really an actual post per se, but an introduction.

Soon, I will fill this thing with all sorts of Strange-fiction-related nonsense, but not today.

I do however have many, many such entries at MykeAmend.com and the Miskatonic Archive (links above), as well as a moderate collection of my artworks (example below). Please join me there in the mean time, and subscribe to this feed for what is to come.

The Greatest Corkscrew Ever Made

From One of a Hundred - Sculptural Furniture via The Steampunk Home:

There is no information on when and if a pocket-sized version of this will be available, but or those not concerned with portability, I give you:



Also found at the Steampunk Home Blog:

Art Donovan's absolutely incredible steampunk designs:

Steampunk Clock in Distressed Brass:



Siddhartha Pod Lamp:



(More images and details at The Steampunk Home and at Donovan Design)

Coraline Button Donuts and More

Image from the Portland opening of Coraline, found at the Coraline blog: EvilButtons along with many other interesting Coraline-related things, a blog which I found through the mighty Superpunch.

More on the opening party, along with many more interesting images can be found on Wieden and Kennedy's blog W+K Portland.

The Clock Tower and La Main des Maitres

The Clock Tower: 2 minutes - A very short, but pretty animated film by Cara Antonelli. You can see more on this film here.



La Main des Maitres: 4 minutes - Beautiful and fascinating in its animation and in its short story, you can learn more about this short film and its makers here



Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at aniBoom

A Beautiful and Intriguing Time Sink

I remember many many years back playing "Samarost" online and loving it. It was one of many, many amazing things that I found through Organic Flash.com - a wonderful place for finding new things, were they not so tragically determined to continue to use php bb.

The second game, aptly named "Samorost 2" - was equally interesting, though I never bought the amazingly cheap full version. Something I might remedy today.

Found online today through the magic of Twitter, "Machinarium" is a new full scale adventure game also designed by Amanita Design.

Having recognized the design right off, I went looking for the previous two so I could share them here. There are however many more games and interesting things at the creator's site, AmanitaDesign.com.

The preview for the game is in the video below:


Machinarium Preview from Amanita Design on Vimeo.

The Tale of How

"Nine months of part time work gave birth to The Blackheart Gang’s acclaimed short film called, The Tale of How. The Tale of How is the second part of a trilogy of works called the Dodo Trilogy. It is to later be flanked by The Tale of Then and The Tale of When. The Dodo Trilogy, in turn, fits into a much greater work called, The Household"...

More on this amazing film series here


The Tale of How from Shy the Sun on Vimeo.

Regarding Templecon

Things have been a bit rough this past month, as I am sure they have been for most everyone.

I hate updating when I am in a negative mood, but I do need to say we won't be at Templecon this year.

The event organizer has been nothing short of wonderful, and she has worked hard on making this what should be an incredible event. We would love to have gone, but things have been increasingly rough for us, as I am sure they have been for everyone.

It would be terribly irresponsible, if not completely self-destructive, for us to try to make this trip right now. There are car issues which we could not resolve in time, and the area hotels were all too expensive for our budget.

For those who are going. We are sad that we have to miss this chance to see you. It would have been so nice to meet you in person, and put some names to some faces, icons, and those interesting letters made from torn magazine covers.

This has been a terrible year for making plans. Though I would love to get out and be more social, I think the best path to take from here is to make no more plans until the white death is off the ground, and until things start to look more promising for all of us. Having been trapped here so long, with limited resources, I've taken to eating hapless humans - again; I have been told that the increase in nervous and slightly hostile energy makes me a bit difficult to be around right now.

For the next months, we will likely be focusing only on regional and local events.

Look for us to be on the road again in March or April - I think S.P.A.C.E might end up being our first haul of the year, but we are pulling for an appearance in NYC at a gallery T.B.A.

Again, sorry for our absense. We do hope to see you very soon.

My Manic

Video by the extremely talented and somewhat dark Laura Marling.



Her videos, her music speak to me in ways that are dangerous, beckoning me to be that beautifully, tragically human entity I was once addicted to being... a voice in the back of my head telling me how wonderful it might be to be depressed, to feel strongly about something or nothing... to exist.

Anger and frustration, silliness and humor, half-hearted at best, are time-efficient jaunts through temporary, fleeting states of being and self-awareness - defenses against the depression of my environment, all of those who seek to bring me down with them... towards time spent, time lost, on whimsical sentience or into the calling comfort of futility.

Remaining driven, powered, maintained through a necessary aversion to distractions of living - this moment of contemplation, all I have, all I am, perhaps all I will ever have been, as the clock ticks on in increments of dollars, deadlines, and fleeting opportunity - marked by an aging shell and the changing world.

Do I push myself so, to someday have time for being alive, or as a measure against it?

I am as repelled by this video, as I am drawn to its beauty.

... back to work.

Mono Goggle from Taggert's Workshop

This photo is just a bit of a teaser, there are many more interesting pictures on his site, Taggert's Workshop including a picture of this splendid eyepiece all lit up.

Though his Blogspot blog is almost brand new, I would highly, highly recommend subscribing to it.

Keep a good eye on this one, I am sure there are many amazing things to come.

Direct link to the monogoggle

A Fantastic Compilation CD

I have spent this past week hooked on the compilation CD that came with Issue 10 of TWF magazine, a magazine I bought erroneously for its featuring of Christian Death...

This, because I am terrible at recognizing faces, and he girl at the front really threw me off - especially since I do not follow the 'Valor' band, whatever they are called, I forget.

The magazine however, regardless is a fantastic magazine.

Its layout and design work are a bit rough, and very reminiscent of an old-school zine, though much bigger than the standard self-published rags (and of course it also has color). But good music mags, such as this are about the music, as they well should be.

Where the magazine really shines is in its content and coverage, wherein the music does not take a back seat to fashion and nifty trinkets; It is a fantastic mag for gothic music enthusiasts, even better with this amazingly well-conceived CD, which is my favorite part of the magazine and well-worth the purchase in its own.

This CD is quite possibly the best single-CD gothic compilation I have heard, period.

Featured in this CD are: Uninvited Guest, STandArt, ASP, Life's Decay, that band with Valor in it, Place4Tears, Niceville, 1000 Voices, Zombie Girl, Jesus on Extasy, Volkmar, Christine Zuffery, All Living Fear, We.Got.This.Far., History of Guns, and Die Form.

Though there is plenty to love for EBM and synth-pop enthusiasts, my favorite tracks are of course those that best fit my traditional gothic, deathrock, dark cabaret, and neo-victorian tendencies - several of which I was introduced to through this CD (which I am incredibly beyond grateful for):

Uninvited Guest - You are your kingdom, ASP - How Far Would You Go?, Life's Decay - Decense**, NiceVille - Endless Cigarette**, Jesus on Exstasy - Beloved Enemy, Christine Zuffery - Mon Chant de Sirene**, All Living Fear - Jessica, History of Guns - Drag On**, and Die Form - BWV 147-5, and *sigh* admittedly... That band with Valor in it - as much as I love the original Christian Death, it really is actually very good track, and they are actually a great band when not doing the Rozz Williams era stuff - which I still feel should be left to CD 1334.

(** denotes my four absolute favorite tracks)

I look forward to future releases from TWF Magazine, if only for their musical selection prowess.


Magazine cover copyright TWF Magazine, Image copyright Christian Death

Young Mad Scientist's Building Blocks

Okay, I sort of wish I had kids by which to justify buying these.

But would I share?



"At Xylocopa, we know that the key to a successful education is to begin learning at a young age. Like many of you, we are concerned about the state of science education in the public school system, especially in the lower grades. Specifically, we have noticed that there is absolutely no training in the K-6 grades that prepares students to become mad scientists. In this competitive 21st-century world, the need for mad scientists will only increase, but the lack of basic education in primary school leaves us concerned that there will be no future students capable of leading in this illustrious field.

Fortunately, we have a solution - a first step, if you will, along the path to mad science proficiency. " [read more at Xylocopa...]

[via Ectomo via Porphyre]

Tornado

Ever imagine what railway engines would be like if steam power had not been abandoned all those years ago?

...Well, British enthusiasts have gone above and beyond, creating this modern-day version of the former technology:





more on these two videos here

New short story

I forgot to mention it before, but I put up a brief strange-fiction insane-fiction story here at The Miskatonic Archive.

Death, Everywhere

Unto Ashes has a free song for you as a Holiday offering (in their blog):

Fly On The Windscreen (a Depeche Mode Cover).