All posts by Carl V. Anderson

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That’s Incredible!

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Jeff and I had been talking about getting together for some time now and last night we decided to meet at the new Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ in his neck of the woods. OK Joe’s is barbeque that is worth flying into Kansas City for, so if you’re ever here…go there! We had originally planned to attend a movie until Jeff found an advertisement in the paper offering a free talk on animation at the local community college by the head of the story team for The Incredibles.

The subject matter and the price were just too good to pass up.

We arrived and were soon joined by Jeff’s friend Mark. As we were sitting there I looked to the front and immediately recognized Mark Andrews from the making-of features on the Incredibles DVD.

I was very excited as Mark was very fun and quite animated himself on the DVD so I knew we were in for an entertaining evening. Mark Andrews was also joined by Brenda Champan.

Brenda has done story boards for many Disney movies including The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast, was the Director for Prince of Egypt, and is now senior story artist on Pixar’s upcoming release, Cars. As Jeff pointed out afterwards, Brenda’s calm but entertaining personality was the perfect complement to Mark’s exuberance. Here is a link to the Johnson County Community College press release of the event.

They spoke about story and the structure of story and used examples from several different films. They also showed examples of how story boarding was used and shot for Snow White vs. how it was used and shot for The Incredibles. They both shared personal experiences and talked about the use of computers in animation. They were both very funny and Mark Andrews was as wild with his gestures and movements in person as he was on the Incredibles DVD. And speaking of The Incredibles and the DVD, if you haven’t seen everything on both discs then you are missing some wonderful entertainment. Not only is The Incredibles one of the best superhero movies out there, the extras are terrific.

The thing I found most entertaining on the extra disc was the short documentary “Vowelette” by Sarah Vowell, the voice behind Violet.

Sarah Vowell is a quirky young lady who is actually a well-known radio personality featured on This American Life on National Public Radio. Sarah is an admittedly bizarre young lady who has a fascination with Abraham Lincoln and is currently finishing up a book on Presidential Assassinations. It was so bizarre to watch her talk and hear Violet’s voice coming out of her mouth.

The extra cartoons, the bloopers, the making-of features…everything on that extra disk is top-notch.

We had a really great time and the crowd asked some very good questions in the Q&A afterwards. Most entertaining was the young girl who asked if they felt their jobs were important since they aren’t the ones who do the actual animation. It was very funny!

Afterwards Jeff invited me to his domicile where he showed me his original comic book pages and other collectibles while I drooled jealously all over the basement floor. I doubt that I’ll be invited back however as I kept him up talking until after 1 in the morning and almost let his cat escape into the cold dark night!

Thanks Jeff, it was a good idea and I had an Incredible time….(you could see it coming, couldn’t you?) 😉

Music

Sex and Violins

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A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?
~Albert Einstein

Good ol’ uncle Albert had many a thought-provoking idea and I would be hesitant to argue with him on most points. Theory of General Relativity? I’m right there behind you Al! Theory of Special Relativity? You go Al! I’ll even grant you that the above equation for happiness is almost correct…however, in response to your query ‘what else does a man need to be happy?’ I would have to answer this: A Woman! And if the violin in said quote is actually played by the fairer sex, happiness is a forgone conclusion!

What is it about women and the violin? In Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing the character Benedick makes the observation “Now, divine air! now is his soul ravished! Is it not strange that sheeps’ guts should hale souls out of men’s bodies?” I’ve loved the violin since I can remember making a conscious choice on the matter. Whether played in true classical fashion, as a down-home fiddle, or somewhere in between my soul is indeed haled by the violin. There is something so inherently sexy about a woman playing a violin. I love my wife exactly as she is….but if the science behind the Matrix were real I would insist that she download a violin virtuoso program immediately. If the Matrix technology was real I would also download a program into my own noodle that would keep me from saying anything along the line of “I wouldn’t change anything about my wife except…” This post then is a celebration of the women whose violin/fiddle playing I adore!

Ireland is one of those places that I long to visit and its music is magical. Sharon Corr has helped bring Irish music to the pop culuture scene.

The Corrs are one of my favorite bands. I enjoy Irish music and The Corrs melodic, up-beat tunes as well as the more melancholic ballads are flavored with traditional Irish folk sound. They harmonize together so beautifully and Sharon’s violin, along with Andrea’s tin whistle, infuses their music with the history of Ireland. This brother-sister team is considered “Irish pop culture’s first sex symbols” and its easy to see why as they are all attractive.

Their parents must have amazing genes! I own the Best of the Corrs DVD and watch it frequently. You can watch 3 of their latest videos in the “The Music” section on their website. Click on “TV Videos” in the upper right of that section to find them. Several videos can also be seen on Launch.

While on the Irish theme I bring you Mairead Nesbitt.

Mairead is part of the touring group Celtic Woman and is a marvelous little powerhouse on the violin. On the recommendation of a friend (Thanks Pat!) I recently purchased the Celtic Women DVD and was blown away! The production was beautiful and the performances were incredible. On the Celtic Woman website you can click on the manhattan records player, found here which will launch a viewing window. When it loads click on Watch Videos in the lower left hand corner and the select “The Contradicion”. It is a two-part violin piece that starts with a beautifully melodic tune and ends with a jaunty Irish jig. If you don’t watch anything else linked to in this post, watch this one because she is incredible. I love how Mairead skips around on stage, flipping her hair as she plays. Her bright green eyes and infectious smile make her a joy to watch.

The European phenomenon Bond literally personifies the idea of Sex and Violins,

an idea that is explored in this article which shares the title of my post. (I knew my title wasn’t an original idea but didn’t think I’d find something of the same name while researching this post!) Their music is unique and entertaining and they play some of the coolest looking stringed instruments that I’ve ever seen. I own two of their CD’s and really enjoy them both. Their lastest video can be found on the main page of their website. While obviously cashing in on their sex appeal these four women are extremely talented and they’ve done wonders in bringing classical music to a younger generation. Their passion and skill is evident when you watch them play. Bond has recently released their latest album, Classified.

A little bit closer to home is Alison Krauss and her band Union Station.

Alison Krauss is simply amazing. I had a chance to see Alison Krauss and Union Station performing this concert on PBS a year or so ago and I was mesmerized. I had heard Alison Krauss before but never really listened and while watching this I was drawn in by both her voice and her violin. That DVD really showcases her bluegrass sound. Several videos can be seen on her website however I think she truly shines in the live performances where you can actually watch her play.

Staying in the country vein brings us to Martie Maguire.

Martie is, of course, one third of the Dixie Chicks. I’ve always enjoyed the Chicks’ brand of country music and especially enjoy Martie’s playing. The fiddle portion of Cowboy Take Me Away is one of my favorites as is the foot stompin’ tune Sin Wagon. I’ve always suspected that watching the Chicks live would yield some amazing fiddle artistry.

A few years ago I discovered Lili Haydn.

Rolling Stone called Lili’s music “an impassioned mix of classical, pop, rock and funk” and is a very good description of her sound. Lili both sings and plays the violin to create a truly unique musical experience. Lili Haydn is likely one of the best violinists that you may have never seen…or at least don’t think you’ve seen. She has played the violin with Sting, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and Tupac. Lili Haydn played the violin on Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring in Josh Groban’s recent PBS concert. The way they shot her playing was amazing as was their interpretation of this beautiful song. More recently Lili can be seen playing the violin in a Folger’s commercial. You can hear a sample of Lili’s haunting voice and incredible violin skills when you open her website as her song Unfolding Grace begins playing automatically.

And last but certainly not least is Lucia Micarelli.

I came across Lucia’s music last year when searching the internet. Lucia Mircarelli has also performed with Josh Groban. Touring with Josh as part of his music ensemble has resulted in standing ovations and an ever-growing fan following. Lucia began learning the violin at age 3 and it is obvious that she has had years of training when you hear her play. You can hear songs from her debut album on her website (click play in upper right hand corner) and can view a video collage shown to the tune Nocturne here. Nocturne is a hauntingly beautiful song and is the first thing I ever heard Lucia perform.

And that’s the tour of the violinist vixens whose music captures my soul. There really is nothing as beautiful as a well played violin. And despite the fact that my wife doesn’t play violin I do love her dearly because:

Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin – it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring.
~S. J. Perelman

Its a fun quote…I had to put it in somewhere!!!

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Death Masque

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Roughly once a year ye ol’ place of employment throws together some sort of family-oriented shindig and this past Saturday was the latest. This year’s event had a Mardi Gras theme so some sort of mask was in order. I haven’t ever been to an actual Masquerade

though I dream of attending one some day at which fancy dress and exquisite masks are donned by all.
Anyway, we went out to our local craft store and picked up supplies. I looked at the blank white mask in my hands and immediately thought of Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe. I took Valspar American Tradition Plasti-kote “Fire-Engine Red” paint, some stick-on jewels, a little acrylic black paint, mixed in some procrastination and this is what emerged:

The picture on the left cheek is a picture of Death,

one of the 7 Endless in Neil Gaiman‘s epic Sandman comic series. The swirl underneath the right eye is also inspired by Death. I free-handed the POE logo from the Poe Museum as the space needed something….it actually should have been bigger but after several failed attempts at forging Poe’s signature in that spot I was ready to be finished…the paint brush has never been my friend! The Masque of the Red Death mask completed I decided the family should have at least some thematical symmetry so I headed over to the local Hot Topic for some poseur-goth shirts.


(the beacon of innocence is Jessica of the Jimmy’s House / Percolations family…I kind of look like a red-face Michael Myers! 🙂 )

Trying to stick with the death theme I chose an Umbrella Corporation shirt for myself (I was doubly proud of the choice as the Death character on my mask is holding an umbrella).

Mary wore a Lenore tee.


(watch her closely and she’ll surprise you)

Lenore is the disturbingly funny comic book creation of Roman Dirge and is one of my favorites. Check out this site for some twisted Lenore flash animated shorts. I recommend Li’l Bunny Foofoo, Li’l Ballerina, Fugly Duckling and Mr Gosh.

Tori wore an Alice-in-Wonderland shirt sporting this image:


(I found this to be very funny considering it was a party for mental health workers!)

I’ve been a fan of the darker Alice-in-Wonderland stuff since playing American McGee’s Alice several years ago.

This was such a great, psychotic, creepy PC game. You can watch a really great trailer for the game here that has a crazy, whispered “we’re all mad here” at the end that gives me chills.

The party was enjoyable and today my mask was gifted to the 15 year old son of my Administrative Assistant who was coveting it throughout the evening. In researching Death pictures I came across this very entertaining site (click picture):

According to this site, in normal mode, my day of demise is set for Monday, September 2, 2041. The optimistic view has me soldering on until Tuesday, October 4, 2061. I’ve noticed through several trials that my normal date of death does not change but my optimistic date fluctuates. For some highly entertaining reading I suggest you click on the Dead Letter Office and read the archives of email that have been sent to the creator of this site. There are some easily-offended, stark-raving maniacs out there! I realize that this is a slighly morbid idea but it is done in the spirit of fun! Come on people!

In closing this post I’d like to point out that today marks the date in 1792 that the guillotine was used for the first time in France. Happy Anniversary!

The Artisan Series

Artisan Series

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I frequently mention artists and authors on this site and have posted a few times about those who I particularly enjoy. There are some creators that I feel are a cut above the rest. Not because of their global popularity or name recognition but because their craft has stirred something in me. Reading their books or viewing their art has made a deep emotional connection with me and inspires me to cast off fear and dive into the creative pool. I don’t know that I can adequately describe why their work makes a connection with me but it has. I spent several days thinking about how I could differentiate these special craftsmen/craftswomen from the many artists that I enjoy and I’ve decided to create a category entitled The Artisan Series. The Latin roots of artisan are: ars–art, artus–skilled in the arts, and artre–to instruct in the arts and I feel that this word is an accurate description of the type of people these creators are. Although some of the artists that I’m considering for this series are authors and some are two-dimensional artists, there are some who actually craft things 3 dimensionally and I liked that the more traditional use of artisan really encompasses the work that they do.

I want to share these artists with you. I remind you of my statement in the description of this site, “…I hope to share many of the things that I am interested in with those who have similar interests as well as maybe open people up to things they didn’t know they were interested in”. I don’t expect you to have the same reaction to these artists that I’ve had…that is one of the great joys of art is that the way it is experienced is unique to each viewer. Go to the sites, share your opinions with the creators on their sites and, as always, feel free to express yourself on this site.

The above being explained I am now happy to bring to you the first in this series. I’m very excited about this first artist and am looking forward to sharing my excitement with you. And so, without any further ado, I bring to you: The Artisan Series….

The Artisan Series

The Artisan Series: Lisa Snellings-Clark

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I want to start this post by saying that all the pictures used in this post are the property of Lisa Snellings-Clark and are used with her permission, so please don’t use any of them unless you first obtain her permission (she’s very gracious and will most likely say ‘yes’ if you ask nicely 🙂 )

Also, clicking on each picture will open up a larger version of the picture. Click on your ‘back’ button to return to the post.

I am thrilled that the inaugural post in The Artisan Series belongs to Lisa Snellings-Clark. Her amazing work and equally amazing work ethic inspire me each time I visit her site. I first discovered Lisa Snellings-Clark several years ago when I read Neil Gaiman’s short story book Smoke and Mirrors. In it he described the genesis for each story and the stories Don’t Ask Jack, Sweeper of Dreams, and The Sea Change were all inspired by sculptures by someone named Lisa Snellings. Sweeper of Dreams particulary resonated with me because of my career in mental health and I was intrigued by the idea of the statue that was the impetus for this tale so I began searching for information on the internet about Lisa. At the time there was precious little to be found…or at least that is what I recall with my hazy memory. Throughout the last few years Lisa Snellings’ name would pop up on Gaiman’s blog and I would see pictures of her work in the Spectrum book series. Eventually a website emerged when Neil began promoting her Ratbag statues. The first one he posted about was the Edgar Allan Poe Rat:

followed quickly by the Neil Rat:

I was once again excited because here were two really fun rat statues depicting my two favorite authors and I began craving more of her work. Needless to say I was thrilled to discover that Lisa Snellings-Clark began a blog on January 15th, 2005 entitled Slaughterhouse Studios. In addition she has a companion site here. It was when I began perusing these two sites, reading Lisa’s posts, and gazing at her amazing artwork that a connection was made.

Lisa Snellings-Clark is a true artisan. She works in many mediums with a myriad of materials to create some of the most inspiring pieces I’ve ever seen. She works with wood, metal, resin, paper mache, and many other materials to craft, carve, build, and sculpt her unique works of art. Her art has a mixture of darkness and light in it that appeals to me. The colors and textures of her work are so alive that you just want to touch them…I can envision myself standing before her works like a child in a museum, being dragged out screaming by my mother because I can’t quit touching the exhibits! When I visit her site my head swirls with ideas of things I’d like to try. The subject matter of her work, as you will see in the following examples, is also something that speaks to me on a very deep level and has a similar theme to other creations that are meaningful to me.


(click for larger detail)

Lisa’s biggest project to date, at least as far as her blog is concerned, has been the recreation of this animatronic sculpture for Neil Gaiman.

The comical version of how this piece came to need repair can be found here. Lisa began documenting her work in progress as we, the faithful blog readers, asked and received answers to our questions and impatiently waited for Lisa to be finished. Looking at the pictures you would think that this sculpture is meticulously carved in wood or cast in resin. Here is Lisa’s almost unbelievable explanation of what this is made of: “Under the Neil sculpture is a wooden base with heavy wood dowel supports. The rest of the sculpture is a mix of paper mache, small figures with wire armature, even smaller figures (like the tiny puppets, which are resin) and leather.” Amazing! And yesterday Lisa unveiled the finished work:

The details are absolutely wonderful as can be seen in these pictures:

Lisa is promising a video soon showing the sculpture in action and I will post an update as soon as that occurs. I’m interested in the transformation of this piece from a very dark piece in tone to a much lighter piece and I’m hoping that Lisa will discuss this in more detail on her site. She will be painting a background for it when she returns it to its place of honor in Neil Gaiman’s home and pictures of this event will no doubt be forthcoming as well.

Though many of the recent pictures and posts on Lisa’s site have been about this sculpture, there is so much more to see and experience at both of her sites. There are more angels, and more rats…harlequins, and jack-in-the-boxes, and this latest sculpture that really caught my eye:

You’ll also find really cool furniture, wonder at the enigma of the puzzle pieces in her work, and discover that Lisa Snellings-Clark’s two dimensional art is as amazing as her sculptures. I would be remiss if I didn’t point you to this picture and the post describing its creation….she carved this out of wood! With a dremel tool! If I had a picture of myself standing with my mouth agape, chin on the floor, I’d post it here!

In addition to the many photographs of Lisa’s art you’ll get to meet her wonderful son, Orion, and learn about how she creates her art. You will also get to know Lisa Snellings-Clark as a person. She is wonderfully candid on her blog and takes the time to answer questions when she can. I really enjoy the time I spend on her blog as I always come away inspired to do more and be more as regards my own personal creativity. There is something special about an artist who has the courage to open up to friends and strangers alike and I admire this quality in Lisa.

Lisa Snellings-Clark is truly a Master Craftswoman. The effort she puts into each piece is evident in both the shots of the work in progress as well as the final results. As I’ve stated, her work stirs something in me. From her whimsical Ratbag sculptures to her larger, more detailed pieces her work shows her creativity, passion, and dedication to the craft. Her work ethic is one to be mimicked. She does not wait around for inspiration to strike, she rolls her sleeves up and works each day to create something…to do something…and this example is one that I aspire to in my daily pursuits. Like any good artist Lisa Snellings-Clark freely admits to her craft being a work in progress and shares that her style is ever evolving. This too is encouraging as it lets me know that its okay to create right where you are and learn to grow into your style…to not rush things but to not sit idly by waiting for the muse to light a fire in your soul. Lisa Snellings-Clark has become one of my absolute favorite artists and I hope you visit her site today and return often. Share your thoughts on her work as I suspect she, like the rest of us who blog, appreciates the interaction. Lisa Snellings-Clark is an amazing woman with an equally amazing talent and I’m so excited for you to enter her world.

(Editor’s note: I want to thank and congratulate Nora Wright a.k.a Ravyn for her wonderful websites which support and showcase Lisa’s work. Without her I fear that I might still be searching for Lisa’s work. Thank you Ravyn!)