The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Greg Manchess

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has captivated me since I was little. Just the words, “Sleepy Hollow,” bring images to mind. It’s the right amount of spooky with the right amount of Halloween tropes. Just scary enough.



I couldn’t read the story as a kid, even though I had an illustrated copy of Shirley Temple’s Storybook. Arthur Rackham’s pen and ink drawings inside were so devilish and weird that I couldn’t spend too much time looking at them for fear of nightmares. I later realized how brilliant they are.



Equally brilliant was Norman Rockwell’s painting of Ichabod Crane. Probably the best depiction of a character from literature out there. He painted it as an example to show publishers a set of posters he had in mind for libraries. Well known characters from popular stories. Such a great idea, but he never saw it realized. No one was interested.

Seriously? Norman Rockwell. Icabod Crane. Not interested.



This story has been on my list of Things To Paint for many years. At the top of the entries was the Headless Horseman. Then Tor.com called last week and wanted something to illustrate the re-issue of the Washington Irving story in conjunction with the latest TV show.



The opportunity was perfect. My idea was a straight-up posed portrait and risked looking a little boring, but I knew the life of the piece would come out of the finished drawing. I’d painted and repainted it over and over in my head, so it was crystal clear. I sent Irene Gallo a quick thumbnail.

I’m already a fan of the show. Completely wacky and yet I’m drawn in every time I watch. So I didn’t want to show the horseman as a wild, horse-rearing, icon. Most artists depict that. I wanted mine to show potential, and let the viewer add the creepy, the drama, the Yikes Factor. Like a hollywood poster that teases the character.



This horseman sketch is slated for a large original oil painting, and perhaps a follow-up poster. Then it’s on to the Wicked Witch of the West, Flash Gordon, Ulysses, Scrooge, Robin Hood, etc, etc.

Rochelle Aytes: Role Play

Here is a cool Vibe Magazine article on our friend Rochelle Aytes! Check it out after the jump:

From gorgeous mastermind behind TLC in VH1's upcoming biopic Crazy, Sexy, Cool to assertive side piece in Mistresses, premiering on ABC June 3, Rochelle Aytes' reel redefines upcoming attraction.

It took a bitch fit for Rochelle Aytes to realize her passion. After the former dance student dabbled in Broadway theater for the Elton John and Tim Rice smash Aida, she nailed a breakthrough performance during a 10-minute improv called "I'm So Pissed" in one of her acting classes. "Ironically, it was the perfect time for me to take the class because I was hurt by an ex-boyfriend who cheated," she recalls of the moment she decided to consider acting as a career. "You face the wall and then you wait until you're at a heightened 10 emotionally, turn and yell out whatever you want to say to the person. There's so much you can draw from that."

A hot and scorned woman is a recurring theme for Aytes, who returns to small screens as the widowed single mother April Malloy who discovers her dead husband has a secret family on ABC's Mistresses this June. She was also tapped for the role of TLC's founder Perri "Pebbles" Reid in VH1's Crazy, Sexy, Cool: The TLC Story - a biopic on the R&B/rap girl troupe set for release later this year. While the dancing actress admits to lacking pipes, her Harlem roots helped level out her character's street mentality. "Pebbles told it like it was and was a little hood. She's from Oakland, Calif. and because I'm from Harlem, I got to bring a little bit of that cool, homegirl fun to her." says Aytes, who stars alongside rapper Lil Mama, singers Drew Sidora and Keke Palmer. "This situation was far from me in that I'm not a singer, but I have an assertive side. This is how [Pebbles] was. Sometimes, I like to be in control."

The self-professed boss lady makes that clear with her career path. After her mother enrolled her at the Ruth Williams dance studio in New York at an early age, Aytes would shake her tutu in ballet class and then perfect her shoulder-pop to Janet Jackson's "Control" at home. The in-house choreography proved valuable during her education at the LaGuardia School of Arts—alma mater of Nicki Minaj and Azealia Banks—where she earned her degree in fine arts. She even clocked in at KFC for two months during high school before swapping fried chicken for sandwiches as a classroom assistant while still showing up for her acting and dancing classes. "I didn't grow up hand-fed things," she says. "I made a living at my craft from a very early age, which is why I am where I am today."

Now, the 5'6'' caramel beauty, whose cinematic debut as Denise Porter in the Wayans Bros. funny flick White Chicks and her crime-solving prowess as detective Grace Russell in the TV thriller The Forgotten has landed her plenty of face-time, continues to look to greater heights on-camera, even in the air. Her character Lisa Breaux's bad romance in the 2006 Tyler Perry bawl fest Madea's Family Reunion earned her a thank-you note on the plane from a woman who'd just left an abusive relationship. But the 36-year-old good girl insists changing the world isn't always on the agenda. While she admits to blocking a hater on Twitter, she says her best impressions are up to the audience. "There may not be a huge lesson in everything," she says of the roles she takes, "but if there's supposed to be, I want to do the best that I can."

Follow Rochelle on Twitter.

- Lena

10 most popular advertising sites in United States (USA)

List of the Most popular advertising sites for United States -Best classified sites in Top 10 rankings

  

Advertising is the key to a successful business but when it comes to online advertising, most people are not really sure if they should try it out because it looks like a risky affair. Most traffic is now found online and many people do not buy newspapers or magazines to get information. Because of this factor, online advertising in USA has increased so as to meet more customers.

What are Most popular advertising sites in United States? Get a list of 10 Best classified sites in Top 10 ranks for USA. Post free ads online on these superb classifieds ad websites!

What are the Best USA Classifieds Ad Sites?

As you go about advertising in the states you may be wondering what the best USA classifieds are so that you can be able to place your ad in a genuine place where people can see it. There are so many and one can be spoilt of choice. Outsourcing various options is good so that you can settle for that one that suits your needs. And on some websites you can post ads without signup 

The list below is of the 10 best advertising sites for United States of America till date :-

#1. eBay classifieds

Mostly used by small businesses dues to its popularity of reaching the masses. In the recent past it led to formation of its affiliate kijiji.com which also operates in the Uk enhancing its stability. Visit ebay classifieds 

#2. craigslist.org

So far this is the most popular site when it comes to posting ads. It’s widely used in the USA plus some parts of the UK. In recent years we have seen it expand to African countries so that people can just be able to know what to get and where to get it from. Craigslist for US

#3. classifiedads.com

At classifiedads.com one will be able to place ads of pets that they are selling, apartments, announcements, items, job vacancies, vehicles and even personal ads. This classified doesn’t restrict individuals. Post classified ads

#4. OLX.com

This has gained popularity amongst African nations due to the fact that anything can be sold here. One is also able to communicate directly with the seller through their phone number. Visit Olx 

#5. Backpage.com

Backpage is driven by heavy search engine traffic and has millions ads posted with all the types of advanced and modern ad posting features. One of the best advertising websites for online advertisers and online marketers to post ads for almost any category . Advertise in all the local places of your city/state in US.  Post an ad on Backpage

#6. Usfreeads.com

With the presence of such a classified one can be able to know when to place their ad and how to place it. It also allows one to know which is the most common item being sold so that they can know if your ad is relevant. visit the site - http://Usfreeads.com

#7. Oodle.com

If you want to the feel of a community while using classifieds then this is the best to use. It allows individuals the option of communicating with their friends so as to see the relevance of the item that is being advertised before purchasing. http://oodle.com/

#8. Locanto

Locanto is a very well established and reputed advertising website that provides free classified services all over the world. You can post buy, sale, jobs, computer, community, marketing, software, products related ads on it easily. www.Locanto.com

#9. Geebo.com

This is also a community based classified in the USA which ensures that individuals are able to know what is available around them. Geebo is really good in terms of traffic and you get quick results in terms of lead generation if you post your listing wisely using any of these online advertising tips and techniques.  www.Geebo.com

#10. Pennysaverusa.com

For lovers of direct mail then this can be an option to consider. It ensures that individuals who are interested get free coupons and even discounted prices on items that they buy when they see the ad.

#11. Recycler.com

Just like any form of advertising agent, this one help individual to find what they need in the nearest place possible. Delivery is always done and you can find anything you need.

USA Advertising sites

View more lists from Vijeta Madaan

Unfinished Business: The Silmarillion

By Justin Gerard

A few years ago I did a number of illustrations from the Silmarillion.  It was a personal project that I did in my spare time.  

As with other personal projects of mine, when client work started coming in I had to shelve it.  

I hate to leave projects behind, but it happens every now and then.  I think it is really good to have a store of unfinished work to go back to.  That way you are never bored. There is always something you could be working on; something more you could be exploring. 

This little study of a Noldor elf and a werewolf is at the top of my little list of paintings to get back to when the time allows.  

The Most Difficult Things Actors Face

Backstage has a great piece written by Stephen Tobolowsky on the most difficult things actors face. Check it out after the jump:

"When you study acting you are likely to do scene work. You may do improvisations. Monologues. Animal exercises. All useful. However, none of these tools can help you handle the most difficult things you have to face as a professional actor: the two kinds of nothing.

It is a mistake to think that all nothings are alike. They’re not. In acting there is the nothing you have to deal with when you are working. On the set they call this “waiting.” This is different from the nothing you have to deal with when you are not working. This nothing is called “despair.”

Despair

Life is difficult when you are waiting for something to break. Every profession has its ratio of anticipation versus doing. Take washing the car or mowing the lawn. These tasks are all doing/no anticipation. Unless you count the anticipation of not doing them anymore.

The opposite profile is all anticipation/no doing, like betting on the lottery or playing right field on a grade school softball team. Acting is more like the lottery. Lots of anticipation. You must know how to wait. Wait for auditions. Wait to see if you get the part.

This kind of nothing requires creativity on the actor’s part. My college professor, Dr. Burnet Hobgood, called this “the actor’s passive creative state.” He said that because he had a Ph.D. I call it the time for opportunity. I look for ways to be inspired. Inspiration turns the hardest of times into a blessing. In no particular order I spend my downtime reading books and plays I don’t have time to read when I am working. I listen to new music. I write notes about what I have experienced. I watch old movies to study the great film actors of the past. I pray for an end to the passive creative state.

Waiting

The second type of nothing happens after you get the job. The focus of this nothing is on how to prepare. Film and television are exercises in time management. There are vast open spaces of nothing to fill. I have been on sets where young performers are more energetic than YMCA campers on an overnight. When the time comes to shoot, they’ve lost their focus. Guard your energy on the set. On the set of “Swing Shift,” the great director Jonathan Demme told me the best advice he could give was, Sit down. It’s a long day.

I need 10 minutes to focus before doing a scene. I know this. I ask the A.D.s for a warning. From then on, no distractions, no music, no phones or Internet. That’s me. Other performers like to use the camera rehearsals to focus. The one thing to avoid is giving your best take during rehearsal. Wait for them to say “Action.” The worst kind of nothing is when your performance doesn’t make it to the film."

- Stephen Tobolowsky

Some (Very) Personal Work

By Paolo Rivera

Le Mariage au Hill Bleue (Wedding Invitation). 2013.

Ink on bristol board with digital color, 11 × 17″.

I'm back to posting at Muddy Colors after a month-long hiatus, during which time... I got married! I created a few pieces of art for the event, and I hope you don't mind if I share them here. As you can see, my professional art doesn't stray far (or at all) from my personal work.



My wife grew up reading (and loving) Tintin so we decided on that style for the invitation and save-the-date. Despite never reading the series in my youth, I was always aware of the character and had great respect for Hergé, its creator.

You may recognize many of the characters who, like our guests, are very dear to us. Although I split the crowd in half according to our personal favorites, there's quite a bit of overlap. My favorite part is featured above: Ripley using the Power Loader from Aliens to hold her bouquet.

Photo by Paul Bates

To push the idea further, each of our guests was given a Lego character for their seat assignment — nearly 100 in all. They didn't all match up with the invitation, but we tried to pair the right character to the right guest. My wife designed the name cards (as well as every other piece of graphic design).

Le Mariage au Hill Bleue (Save the Date). 2012.

Ink on bristol board (with digital color), 11 × 17″.

Our wedding was held at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, which takes pride in growing and serving their own food. It's a beautiful, bucolic setting — the Rockefeller's former dairy farm, in fact — and the weather was perfect. Our Save-the-Date features the main entrance, which is where we attempted a live-action version right after the ceremony.

Photo by Tory Williams

I also did the bachelorette t-shirts, which were based on Le Lotus Bleu, another Tintin adventure. Pictured below is the wedding cake topper, which I baaaarely finished in time. Most people probably know Wolverine by now — that's Psylocke on the left. This was before I added three claw marks to the cake with a knife.

Psylocke and Wolverine. 2013.

Super Sculpey, wood, and acrylic, 4 × 4 × 6″.

Photo by Paul Bates

And finally, my Mom commissioned one of my good friends, Maris Wicks to create a portrait of us. I love it. I was a huge Ninja Turtles fan growing up, Raphael being my favorite. My wife's name is April, so I think it must have been destiny.

Maris Wicks. April and Raphael. 2013.

Ink and watercolor on bristol, 9 × 12″.

NYCC : Whedonverse Recap

-By Dan dos Santos

I've always attended NYCC, but never have I attended in any 'official' capacity. This year, Dark Horse comics was nice enough to invite to speak on one of their panels, and do a signing at their booth.



On Friday, Dark Horse held the 'Whedonverse' panel, which was an hour long lecture (followed by Q&A) about all things 'Whedon' from Dark Horse comics. The panel consisted of Editor in Chief Scott Allie, Serenity interior artist Georges Jeanty, cover artist Dan dos Santos, Buffy interior artist Rebekah Issacs, Angel and Faith cover artist Scott Fischer, and writer extraordinaire Jane Espenson.



The panel discussed what has been, what is to come, and shared some wonderful new art from DH comics that had never been seen.

Scott Fischer's cover for 'Angel & Faith' #1

You can read about the panel HERE in a wonderful recap on Newsarama, or you can watch the whole thing in the video below:

The discussion was followed by a fantastic Q&A, where in addition to some great questions, we actually got to meet some really wonderful fans, including the best darn 'Kaylee' cosplay I've every seen!

The following day, DH hosting a signing, where all of the people from the panel, plus one of my favorite cover artists Steve Morris, joined us for one large gauntlet of free posters and signatures.

All in all, the whole event was a real delight. You could tell that all the people who work on these comics do so with a sincere passion equal to the amazing fans who waited in line for hours for a chance to meet them and ask questions. It was a humbling experience, and I left the convention feeling like I just married in to a new family!