Emma Stone's Advice to Actors

Here is some great advice from talented actress Emma Stone, who was at WonderCon promoting her upcoming film, 'The Amazing Spider-Man'. She was asked what was her advice to actors, and gave a very memorable and surprising answer.



- Lena

ARC Awards

The International 2011-2012 ARC Salon Award Winners were just announced, and there was a very strong showing of Science Fiction/Fantasy illustrators this year. In fact, many of them took home prizes.



The word 'illustration' is often thought of a dirty word in the fine art scene, which I've always found perplexing. To me, commercial illustrators are some of the most talented artists in the world. So it's very nice to see high fantasy art (complete with dragons in some cases!), receive such notoriety along side traditional portraiture and still lives.



I have no doubt I'll miss a few, but just some of the Illustrators to take home awards include:

Donato Giancola

1st Place: Most Ambitious Work

Julie Bell

1st Place: Animal Category

Sam Burley

Most Creative Work

David Palumbo

Finalist: Figure Category

Don Maitz

Finalist: Figure Category

Howard Lyon

Finalist: Figure Category

Heather Theurer

Finalist: Figure Category

Patrick Jones

Finalist: Figure Category

Thomas Kuebler

Finalist: Sculpture Category

James Gurney

Finalist: Animal Category

There are, of course, a TON of other amazing and well deserving works. I highly recommend you go take a look at them at The Art Renewal Center's website. Be sure to click on each piece, as most of them have extremely hi-rez scans for your perusal.

Harbor Bandit

- By Jesper Ejsing

This is a Magic card that just got released. It is published in the M13 Core set of Magic: the Gathering.

I sketched 2 versions and sent both off, since I couldn't decide which one I though was the best. I liked the one with the old gnarled thief hanging upside down, but was afraid how the image would read at card size. The other one is more like a Batman silhouette and I kind of knew it would be pretty clear. Jeremy Jarvis, the art director, chose the "Batman" one and I went for that.

When sketching it and transferring it to board i enjoyed giving him a bit of character by making him really messed up in the face, ugly as hell. I imagined he had always been the ugliest kid around and that he was teased an bullied by the other kids. the life of an outcast has lead him to become the Master Thief and now he is getting back at the world. he should be as ugly as his deeds. Well; it is a lot of thought for a Thief illustration, but making stories up like that, helps me add mood and character to the figure.

Unfortunately he ended up being too ugly. The Art Director asked me to submit a "hero" version that would make the players want to be the figure instead of being repulsed by him.

So I painted another face on top. I should have done it on a separate paper, or digitally or whatever to keep my original face intact, but I have found out I can better do it this way. When I spread an illustration out over several sheets of paper and the final is a collage of all, I lose focus and make a weaker painting. 

Happy 4th!

Have a happy and safe Independence Day, from the Muddy Colors Crew! (Art by Andrew Bawidamann!)

2012 IlluXcon Scholarship

I'm going to assume that everyone that reads this blog knows by now what IlluXcon is. If not, you can read about it HERE, HERE, and HERE. Long story short... If you like SFF art, this con is a must.



In addition to being committed to the advancement of Science Fiction/Fantasy art, IlluXcon is equally committed to art education. Not only do they offer student pricing on their tickets, but they also hold a student scholarship competition, for which the winners (yes, thats plural) receive all expense paid trips to the event. That competition, just went live.



The competition is open to all students - high school, college, atelier, etc, regardless of accreditation.



The deadline for submission is AUGUST 1st, 2012.



This year's judges are:

Lauren Panepinto (Art Director, Orbit Books)

Dave Palumbo (Artist and Art Director, Night Shade Books)

John Jude Palencar (Artist)

Greg Hildebrandt (Artist)

Jean Scrocco (Agent and owner of Spiderwebart Gallery)

Jim Burns (Artist)



More info, as well as the entry form, can be found HERE.

Commercial Actors Should Never...

The Networker has a great article for actors seeking commercial work. Check it out after the jump:

Commercial Actors Should Never...
by Casting Director, Laurie Records

  
"...fail to develop thick skin.

Rejection happens daily and in numerous ways in the world of acting. Disappointment is common and there is plenty of heartache. Pursuing a career in acting (and yes, even for commercials) is not for the faint of heart. It's hard. Are you wondering where the usually upbeat and optimistic Laurie Records has gone; complete with her silver lining? She's still here, and she's being honest. The good news: there are always solutions to the challenges of the profession. There are tools to get through the rough stuff. What’s my recommendation for actors to aid in coping with rejection, disappointment and heartache? THICK SKIN.

Commercial actors should never fail to develop a thick skin.

You know what I mean by thick skin, don't you? My favorite dictionary definitions:
*Insensitive to criticism; not easily upset or affected.
*Not easily offended.
*The ability to withstand criticism.

Actors by nature are emotional, feeling people. It's one of the things that make them… good, sets them apart. You can’t ditch the sensitive aspect of your personality. That would be a poor choice, big picture, as your acting would likely suffer for it. But you can clothe yourself daily in your thick skin to ensure staying as emotionally healthy as possible though the inevitable day-to-day stuff that brings you down.

When exactly do you want that thick skin? Here is a list of what I have personally heard over the last month, that requires some good old-fashioned thick skin...

Canceled audition/callback. From my perspective, we are talking about two separate issues/two types of disappointment. When you have an audition and then it’s canceled, casting is saving your precious time. Likely the specs have changed. Take pleasure that they wanted to see you in the first place and move on. When you receive a callback, and it's rescinded (and this happens often, actually) that stinks. In my experience, the callback list is huge, and they decided to narrow it down. It's also possible the specs have been narrowed and you don't fit. Either way, you have confirmation that you were good, and either (or both) the director or the ad agency liked you. Feel good about that. Let your thick skin deflect the potential to feel rejection.

"On avail," but no booking. Logically you know that avails are very, very good. But after a while, or after having a string of them with no booking at the end, it's easy to get disheartened. This scenario provides the perfect opportunity to put on that thick skin. Chin up. Steer clear of misery lane and stay the course.

Dropped by your agent. It happens all the time. It's business. If you can put on your thick skin, and actually learn and grow from the painful experience, you’ll be all the better for it. Thick skin will allow for the gaining perspective instead of spinning in despair. The more you learn from the experience, the less likely it will be that it happens again.

Overhearing a Casting Director or Agent convo/reading a leaked industry email with less than flattering talk. If you're looking for flowery, sugar coated, or generally kind speak... you won't often find it in this business. I'd say the conversation is blunt and to the point. In commercials (and I'm not making excuses, just stating the facts) there isn't time to say something in kind code. And remember I am specifically addressing the times you hear a conversation/reading an email that wasn't meant for you/actors in general. Usually, though not always, there is some softening in the choice of words when addressing an actor direct. Your outrage about the harsh business (and that's what it is) is a waste of time and energy. Just put on the thick skin.

Set talk/walkie talkie chatter. The folks that work on set are known to be tough talkers, and (very) stereotypically have no great love for actors. When overhearing... put on the skin and flee the scene (not to be confused with set. Stay on set). If you are being directly addressed in a disrespectful manner, you can always call your agent, if you feel the need to take action. When overhearing smack talk, you have two choices: stop overhearing or take it in through your thick skin. If receiving harsh notes from the director, your thick skin will again, come in handy.

Ignored by the clients in the callback room. I really, really hate to say this, but... it happens all the time; get over it. Don't let it bother you, throw your performance, or ruin your day. This sounds strange, but just because the clients are ignoring you, doesn't mean they are disinterested in you and you won't get the job. It is rude behavior. It's something you have no control over. It's something even the Casting Director has no control over. Put on your thick skin and give the best performance you've got.

Class feedback. Honestly, you're paying your hard earned cash for the critique. If you aren't ready to hear critical feedback about your performance in front of the camera, wait until you are. You should expect it, welcome it, and be open enough to take it in for the betterment of your career.

You aren't "right"... too old/young, short/tall, pretty/quirky. When you have no control over the issue, let it go. If you do have control over it, and are unhappy, change it. Resist taking it personally. Locate your thick skin.

My final nugget of wisdom: It's business. It is not personal. This is sometimes difficult to remember in the moment, but enormously important. Your ever increasingly thick skin will help you to keep that in perspective."

Laurie Records, Casting Director

Follow her on Twitter

- Lena

Summer Vacation

-By Arnie Fenner

There are a number of art destinations for vacationers with discriminating taste this summer so I'll just list a few. The first being a major show devoted to Alphonse Mucha at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, in Cedar Rapids, IA. Opening July 14, Alphonse Mucha: Inspirations of Art Nouveau will feature 230+ paintings, pieces of jewelry, sculptures, and lithographs.

Next up I'd suggest taking in Howard Pyle: American Master Rediscovered at the Norman Rockwell Museum. Jim Gurney will be giving a lecture, "Howard Pyle as a Picturemaker," on July 12.

The Fenimore Art Museum is hosting American Impressionism: Paintings of Light and Life, featuring works by William Merritt Chase, Mary Cassatt, Theodore Robinson, John Henry Twachtman, and many others from 1881-1942.

Kansas City's Nelson Atkin's Museum has an invaluable show for artists with a retro-futurist (or Steampunk) bent who might need some research: Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs, 1851-1939.

And, of course, in less than two weeks one of the best exhibitions of, hmmm, stuff will take place at Comic Con International in San Diego. Art, actors, comics, toys, and fans wearing great costumes and fans wearing costumes who definitely should have been prevented from doing so. (Spandex is not forgiving.) If you don't have a membership already, well, they're sold out. If you DO have a membership, swing by Booth 4503 to meet MC's Donato Giancola (and Stephan Martiniere!). Also drop by Dave Seeley's and John Pcacio's booth (#4600) to preview items in the benefit auction for Cyril Van Der Haegen.