I don’t have much time to write, but I am working on illustrations for a book called “Asking the Right Questions”. (I’ve mentioned it before). It is a very exciting project, so I am thrilled to show the first finished panel.

Thoughts? Comments?

-Tom

If you do not know what the 11 second club is, check it out here: www.11secondclub.com

This is my submission for January:

Or download a Higher Res version here (right click, save as)

-Tom

So I’m finally getting into this 11 second club thing…

Here is my first hack at the clip. I went a bit goofy with it, but I’ve enjoyed working on it so far.

This clip is just composition and color (no animation). It’s confusing as hell, but I aim to clarify with good animation. I’m hoping to make this a buttery 30 frames per second. So try to picture it as amazing ;)

Picture lots of helicopters and crumbling buildings too… :D

Any thoughts?

-Tom

In the coming semester I will be working on a series of illustrations/cartoons possibly appearing in the next version of a book called Asking the Right Questions. It is quite an interesting book- written by one of my professors: Dr. M. Neil Browne.

The following sketches are based on subject matter within the book.

1) Sponge Learning vs. Panning for Gold Learning

2) Teaching with Questions

3) Critical Thinking Etiquette

4) Attitude toward debate: Winning Vs. Furthering Understanding

5) Descriptive Arguments and Prescriptive Arguments

What are your impressions? Feel free to give me any feedback, ideas/changes etc…
-Tom

The next iteration of the Legal Squirrels animation. The project is getting near the end now.

There are still many sound problems. Distracting background noise, unadjusted levels, no music, missing sound effects, etc… but the visual quality is nearing completion.

Lo res:

But I suggest this yummy HD version HERE- 35mb (right-click and save-as)


-Tom

I’ve decided to throw another cover up here. I really, really like this song. It’s called Sideways by Citizen Cope. Citizen Cope is one of my favorite artists, very soulful. Anyway, the following video is my take on the song:

It’s more of an out-pour than a song, really. I made up some of the words on the go, I rarely memorize the correct lyrics to songs… But maybe that’s a good thing.I also like the songs Penitentiary and Son’s Gonna Rise (both by Citizen Cope).

If you can’t see the video, here’s an mp3

All the best,

-Tom

I’m working on another poster for Dr. Browne. (see my first one here) It is based on an analogy about a Hedgehog and a Fox by Sir Isaiah Berlin (who, incidentally, also is the progenitor of one of my favorite ideas, the idea of “positive liberty” and “negative liberty”)*.

The hedgehog and fox analogy is fairly simply: Berlin’s fox is a creature who knows something about an expansive range of subject matter- a generalist. Alternatively, the Berlinian hedgehog knows a great deal about one specific thing- a specialist.

So in trying to create an image to represent this idea, I made several doodles of hedgehogs and foxes… but I ended up with the following two characters. I’m not sure if I’ll use them, but they’ve been fun to make.

Here they are:

Agent Hedgehog sees extremely far through a tiny narrow scope.
Agent Fox cannot see as far, but is resourceful in any environment.

Any suggestions?

-Tom

* The distinction of “positive liberty” and “negative liberty” is rarely made in the U.S.- But I find it tremendously important. Essentially, it binds liberty (or freedom) with means.
In other words, being free doesn’t amount to much unless you also have the tools to accomplish what you wish. Many phrase the distinction like this:

Negative Freedom is Freedom From
Positive Freedom is Freedom To

Example: We have the Negative Freedom to go to Hawaii on vacation. There is no law preventing us from flying to Hawaii.

If we had the Positive Freedom to go to Hawaii, the government (or someone) would provide us with airfare, plan the trip, get hotels, etc..

For instance, public education is a Positive Freedom. Not only are there no laws preventing education- there is a school in every area, and it is free of charge.

Now, there is certainly a gradient present here. This is not a case of “either/or”. Pos/Neg liberty exists on a scale.

Still a bunch of issues to work out… but it’s getting there-

Download it HERE. (31mb)

Right click and “save as”

-Tom

So I’ve been trying to nail down this project. As always, it takes longer than I expected.

Here is a lower-quality render:

Download a little higher-quality file (right-click and save as) HERE. -36.1mb

Feel free to take a verbal swing at it. There are many things missing (text representing the legal end, for one). Sound clips are missing, but the general feel/animation is there.
enjoy!

-Tom

In his brief stay on this world, Egon Schiele managed to overturn many cultural and social notions of painting and art. Schiele’s work is raw and erotic- even by current standards. In the early 1900’s his paintings ended up landing him in prison for “obscenity”. I find his work wonderful- particularly the oddly skewed nature of the figures. I wish I could more eloquently describe it for you, but perhaps just looking at the work will do a better job:

Self Portrait with Hand on Cheek, Egon Schiele, 1910

Seated Female Nude with Raised Right, Egon Schiele, 1910

Self Portrait with Winter Cherry, Egon Schiele, 1912

Striding Torso in Green Blouse, Egon Schiele, 1913

Sinking Sun, Egon Schiele, 1913

And my favorite:

Seated Woman with Bent Knee, Egon Schiele, 1917