Feliz Año Nuevo.

Just a new years post.

Happy 2009 to all.

This is also my first post with the new computer. After my endless (seemingly) months of pissing and moaning and complaining and bellyaching, I finally went ahead and invested in a Mac.

We'll see what benefits it yields in the coming days, but for now, I'm just playing around with functions and discovering wonderful and wacky new things.

OK bed time. I told you this was a simple, short post.

Bon soir. Peace people.

- Fred

More Twitching. Less Scratching.

Hi folks. A small update here. Just a peek at the progress on the new piece. I've encountered some technical difficulties working through this, which have starkly reminded me of my vehement hatred for the Windows OS and all of its ridiculous neuroses. I love alot of things about it too, don't get me wrong. But damn was this evening frustrating or what. Like pulling teeth from a crocodile. Argh.

Anyway, the image below shows some of the playing around I've been doing with coloring. One thing I can definitely say for the Wacom pen, it allows alot of natural laydown from the pen to the screen. I went a tad color crazy on this young lady's hair, but I frankly don't give a shit. It is what it is, and I'm playing around with it in several ways.

When it's done, it will presumably be my last piece of 2008, so hopefully I can release it in time for the New Year celebrations. What little there is to celebrate... sorry, the cynical misanthrope in me was creeping up again.

Anyway, enjoy. Hopefully I can post another progress shot or two before year's end. Click the image to see the full size.

Bon soir. (I really have to stop ending my posts in foreign languages. It's not nearly as cool as it sounds.)

- Fred

Treasures and Lull.

Christmas came and went and I barely noticed. Between work and travel, I was able to procure gifts for precisely 2 people out of over 15 that I usually buy for each year. Not exactly happy about that. At least I'm back home for this week. NYC lounging and having time to breathe and actually spend more than 4 consecutive hours NOT stressing about something... It's uncanny, I know.

Nonetheless, my mom (who is awesome) blessed me with a sweet new Wacom tablet on Dec. 25th. I have been toying around with this thing ever since and it's pretty sweet. The first time I tried it out, I nearly creamed myself. I shit you not.

Despite having a house full of children ages 4 through 9-ish, and having zero time to dedicate to my creativity, plus having a rather shitty day in general, I was able to eke out a good chunk of graveyard shift time to give the Wacom a proper test drive. The result ...? Well so far, a working illustration of one of the characters from Gun, around which my creative life seems to revolve these days (apart from the occassional poem, that is). So far I've just done lines for her face and head. I'm expanding downward and then coloring and then doing background. I'll probably develop this into a full-fledged promo piece or something in a similar vein.


But that will be tomorrow. My black ass is tired. Enjoy a look at the work in progress by clicking the thumbnail.

Addio.

- Fred

Re-Discovery.

So last weekend in NYC was pretty interesting... apart from stressing myself beyond belief, yet again, I had a good time with the usual suspects and had far too many beers. However, I haven't jumped into this cab to share the details of my random journeys in my hometown. What I have come for, is to impart the sweet, sweet knowledge of my discoveries. Or actually rediscoveries.

I have finally... FINALLY managed to begin extracting some of my old, ancient and very priceless data from pre-2004. I'm talking about some of the most horrid creations that have never been released to the public. Well I finally have them at my disposal. Oh yes, there will be blood, ladies and gents. Cuz' frankly these ridiculously terrible old creations of mine will kill you.

I'm talking about some real old gems here people. For one, I found the first EVER flash animation I ever tried to produce. It is a godawful cartoon that really reflects just how stupid and ridiculous I was at the age of 18. It will embarrass me to no end to release it, and for that very reason I must. You will revel in it. Also accompanying it is another ridiculous and stupid animation that I made ages ago to poke fun at my buddy's obese and obnoxious ex-girlfriend, plus some shitty artwork that should be burned and shat upon.

Secondly, I found the first and only game I ever tried to create in Flash. This one actually went a bit further than I remembered. It too is terrible, but really interesting, as you can see little elements of Gun creeping into my subconscious, namely in the look of the main character. You'll see. Maybe one day I'll carry that one out to the end, but I sincerely doubt it. I love Gun too much to bother with anything else right now. Either way you'll get to see it.

Third and most important of all... I found the extended version of the OLD 2004 first run of Gun episode 1. It is baaaaad... so bad. I love it. It will be up soon for your viewing displeasure.

What all this amounts to is essentially the release of the following:

• New OLD art
• New OLD animations
• New OLD Gun!!!!
  

Trust me, after seeing the extended second scene, you'll really appreciate the fact that I lost this data ages ago and had to start from scratch with the current version. Wootalicious.

Prepare to be amazed, my dear friends. and yes, I do mean that in the worst way imaginable.

Te amo.

- Fred

Currently listening to: "Mirrored" by Battles

Realizations

I'm sitting here typing in this cafe and I slowly realize something... all the talk, the writings, the musings, the ideas, concepts, and ambitions...

They don't mean shit without flesh. I'm talking about content here. Meat. Substance. Real shit, you know.

The more I ruminate on this concept, the worse it tastes. I know exactly what I'll have to do, and so do you. There's simply no other way to breathe life into the otherwise meaningless dribbles, which have frankly gone on for far too long. Enough is enough.

It's time. Win or lose, I'm gonna see the finish line here.

Quickies.

Yes, quickies. Like that sex you wish you never had. 45 seconds of bliss followed by a lifetime of shame... oh yes, you know the one... why didn't you ever call me back after that night anyway?

Oh, sorry, my bad. I was thinking out loud again.

Anyway, I've been working with some black-tie codes. Really fancy-schmancy if you're smellin' what I'm shoveling here. Working bit by bit on the redesign, to make a fantastic impact once everything is ready to roll.

As usual, nothing I'm writing makes total sense to anyone but me. Sorry kiddies, that's just how I am. I have ridiculous visions of great things, and each of those things is just around the corner, just beyond the horizon, or whatever other cliché little statement of proximity you prefer.

The fire is there... all I need is wood to burn. Somebody take an axe to these fucking trees already!

As I produce new and amazing things (as all my work is ridiculously amazing and unparalleled, I know) I will be keeping the masses (read: the 15 people who are actually reading this) informed about it all.

Also I just realized that the Heretik Times is now a year old. Maybe a birthday makeover will be in order, no? a small facelift, nothing major. I'll think about it, if I can manage to make the edits with this machine.

Either way, happy belated birthday to the blog. WOOT! Cake is in order. Delicious coldcake smothered in anchovies and mercury. lol.

If you don't get that joke, it's probably because only about one other person knows about it. You'll probably get it once Ramon gets his little side project off the ground. That cake there is his creation, not mine.

Anyway, time to sleep and pray that this isn't yet another Hell Week... work is kicking my ass, people. Wish me the best.

Until next time. Fred, out.

Detours Don't Last Forever.

So here I am yet again, typing updates by the ugly light of this deli... bringing you words at 15-minutes to 1AM courtesy of 24hour free wireless internet... the wireless at my apartment refuses to work for me, so I have to resort to this nonsense.

I'm still in the middle of the most fucked-up breath-holding lull EVER. It won't go on indefinitely though. In fact, I've already taken a few steps to alleviate the dust of these spacious times. I've recently picked up some fresh art supplies for inspiration's sake, and have already begun producing new works. All I need now is a scanner (and about a thousand other things), then I'll be set to share some new material.

Still working around the Gun issue... I'll keep you posted. The balancing act between work, life, and my passions is becoming somewhat less strenuous, but I'm by no stretch of the imagination adjusted yet. It kind of helps that I have no attachment whatsoever to the city I'm currently in. I can just focus on my own shit. It kind of sucks wishing you were with your old crew back home on a daily basis though.

Ah well. c'est la vie.

I'm still gettin' the Gun ready... believe it.