An inside look at the making of my short Plug! Enjoy and thank you for the kind remarks everyone!
David
Art Explorers present PLUG
Its been an amazing experience. One that I am thankful and appreciative of. Thank you everyone for your support and friendship. It means the world to me. Here it is I hope you enjoy! See you on our next "Art Exploration"
David
Exploring PLUG
Exploring PLUG
Years ago I went on a long road of working on a project that would be created from scratch. All of the things I love. Science fiction, vehicles, robots, industrial design, film and exploring art. I have worked on many projects, all of them teaching me something different. This project would be fun, creative and more importantly challenging. That doesn't mean it would not take endless hours and hard work, but it would be something I would be personally passionate about. A journey for myself. Along that journey friends and people would help me bring this project into fruition, as I also learned how to surround myself with the right people. Building props, creating designs and filming actions scenes in the salt flats would all be worth the effort. It was a hard journey, but nothing is ever simple when passion and care drives you. We are never satisfied as artists or artisans. Striving is part of the journey we face, the struggles build character and make us better sculptors, better carpenters...etc.
Saturday October 25 at the Gnomon School of Visual Arts we will present PLUG. If you're in the area please come by, see the screening and say hi. We will have several talks about making the short film and a gallery showing of art and props that were made.
In the meantime enjoy some pics and the plug trailers. And stay tuned for the short film coming online in few days! See you soon, on the next Art Explorer's adventure...
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Studio Denizens
I was asked to take a couple photos of some of the items that I keep in my studio that make me happy as I work. Some I've collected over the years, others have been given to my by friends and family. Since I love all things equine, and could wax poetic about that subject for the next hundred years, I naturally have many horse related items. Here is a small sample--a dear acquaintance of mine has labeled this one 'The Shrine'. Yes, that is an authentic Mr. Ed hand puppet from the 1960's.
Here are some other items on a bulletin board -- I have a definite penchant for the color blue... and some other items atop a file cabinet, some from nature, some just playful, including a plastic jackalope amidst the anatomy models, beetle, griffin, and alligator skull.
It would be neat to see what sort of stuff other folk keep around!
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Inspiration
I thought we would share this video that Terryl Whitlatch found recently on her trip to Texas. It has been around for a while and is produced by the wonderful people at BBC narrated by one of my heroes Sir David Attenborough. We find it quite inspirational and beautiful. This is what motivates us at Art Explorers. We hope it does the same for you too, whether to brighten your day or to create something ... Enjoy
Click on the Picture above or HERE
Team AE
Sketching
I usually carry a sketchbook with me all the time. If it's not on me it's in my truck. Nowadays smartphones are phenomenal to gather reference and snap pictures one can use for later reference. But to me, sketching on the spot ,whether a particular tree in the Grand Canyon or an elephant in a zoo, there is a huge difference. Sketching trains your eye to observe the important things in a subject. The gestures and shapes that you , as an artist on the spot, will pick out as important "landmarks". Rather than seeing how many whiskers are on a cat or how many buttons are on that jacket we are focusing on an overall feeling. Shapes, silhouette and landmarks that make lines important. Yes details are important but without a strong foundation, they are all useless and irrelevant.
We are going to cover some things that work for us in approaching a sketch. What do we look for? Where do we start? What is my goal?
Q - What do you look for?
Manu - in approaching a subject I will look for its general shape. Back to basic cubes, cylinders, spheres etc. nothing new there, "When you feel you are in trouble, go back to your basics" Rickson Gracie.
That statement is meant for martial arts, but it applies art perfectly. In drawing animals at zoos or parks, I break the animal in three parts. Forequarters, belly and hindquarters. I look for angles and landmarks in the silhouettes. My sketching approaches can vary from using lots of gesture lines to what I call noodling. I remember once hearing animator Glen Keane talk about this type of sketching. Your pencil make lots and lots of lines trying to find that perfect one that will do the job. One important rule is to stay loose. Do not focus on hair, eyelids or minor detail. Learn to observe. This is what sketching is.
David - My view on sketching is based on surfaces. I enjoy working with masses and contrasts. The line to me is a way to organize my thoughts, design and composition on the page, where I come to life is during the contrast part of sketching. Of course, the line will always be the foundation, but strong contrasts allow me to quickly validate or cancel volumes and shapes. As one of my friend, Joe Watmough mentioned before, it is as if you were an alien who just landed on earth, and you are seeing light and shapes for the first time. By detaching yourself from the subject you observe, you can attain a truer view of it.
Terryl Whitlatch joins Art Explorers
It is with great honor and admiration that we proudly announce our newest Art Explorers team member, the incredibly talented Terryl Whitlatch. From drawing mustangs to endless conversations of winged raptors, Terryl was too much of a great fit not to have her with us. Terryl and I can spend endless hours discussing the flights of merlins down to the ways pangolins walk. Her love for drawing and all things wild have led to us being great friends.
Terryl has worked on many projects from Disney's Brother Bear to Star Wars. Her amazing knowledge of animals and creature designs are a well known. She is a scientific and academically trained creature
designer and concept artist. Combining in-depth knowledge of zoology and
animal anatomy with her incredible illustration skills.
Terryl has illustrated several books including the amazing "Animals Real and Imagined" available at Design Studio Press. I am excited to have her on board to share her knowledge, skills and adventures. We are very honored to have you on board Terryl! Welcome!
Thank you all for the kind messages on the blog , we promise more posts, David, Thierry and myself have been swamped and Kristy is doing her best to round us up. We have some great announcements soon and hope to bring you all more. Including guest interviews and upcoming events.
From all of us at Art Explorers thanks!
Enjoy some Terryl Whitlatch art...
The AWARE Trust
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I thought I would take the time and introduce the great organization I am volunteering at in Zimbabwe. AWARE is the only veterinary conservation trust in Zimbabwe
run by veterinarians, focusing on the welfare of wildlife and conservation of
wildlife habitats. The Trust provides expert veterinary treatment and rehabilitation to
sick or injured ownerless wild animals on a pro bono basis,
especially where these animals have suffered at the hand of man. This may
include preventative treatment of wild animals at risk from disease, or
pre-emptive rehabilitation of wild animals threatened by humans.
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| Dr Lisa Marabini and Dr Keith Dutlow with Chief Ranger |
In the lead are two great people whom I've had the pleasure to work with, Dr Keith Dutlow and Dr Lisa Marabini. They started AWARE Trust in 2004, the trustees were looking for independent funding to
perform an important disease surveillance project.
Keith is the Founder Trustee and Director of Operations, Keith was born in Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe. He graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of
Veterinary Science in 1994 and became a member of the Royal College of
Veterinary Surgeons by examination in 1996.
He has worked extensively in small animal and mixed practices in the UK,
Australia and Zimbabwe. Dr Keith Dutlow's introduction
to wildlife work came through a
job as an ostrich vet in Zimbabwe. In 2001, he took a record breaking 2026
ostriches by ship from Spain to Brazil. He has been working with other wildlife
species, in particular lion, cheetah, elephant, rhino, buffalo, hyena and
small felids since 2004.
Lisa is the other Founder Trustee and Director of Operations, she was born in Harare,
Zimbabwe. She graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of
Veterinary Science in 1998 and became a member of the Royal College of
Veterinary Surgeons by examination in 1999. She has worked in small animal
practices in Zimbabwe, Australia and the UK. Lisa has always been
passionate about the conservation and welfare of wildlife. She obtained her
private pilot’s license (PPL) for light aircraft in 1994 with a view to
becoming a wildlife vet.
While I was there we had the privilege of working with Dr Erick Mutizhe and Dr Andy Garura, who are also wonderful vets that work for AWARE. I was there on an African Rhino Operation but they handles various projects.
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| Dr Andy Garura and Dr Erick Mutizhe |
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| Dr Keith Dutlow removing horn and Dr Mutizhe monitoring vitals |
Apart from seeing amazing scenery, animals and making new life long friends I was honored to take part in trying to help an animal that is in need of help. Help that we humans can offer. The hands on experience was incredible and Im hoping to take part next time this happens. If anything I hope that we have made a difference in the existence of the rhino. Here at Art Explorers, David Levy (VYLE), Thierry Doizon (barontieri), Kristy Tipton and myself (MANu)
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| Dr Lisa telling me. "Is that all the strength you got Manny?" :) |
are all very passionate about what we do and how we can apply it to our other passions. The oceans, the forests our wildlife something that we all treasure and are thankful for everyday for who we are as people and as artists.
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| Baby Rhino being tagged and dehorned |
Please visit awaretrust.org
If you can donate, please do. If you have any questions send them my way. I hope you all are enjoying the African posts and promise more art exploring from digital brushes to tutorials! Feed your passions by going outside and creating!
Special thanks to Tracey and Chris Hugill, you guys are great! Team AWARE!!
MANu
Erick
Of all the rhinos that we dehorned, Erick is a memorable one. Let me tell you why. The day had been very successful tracking and finding all of the rhinos in the area. The rangers ha located all but one. His name is Erick. We had spotted him the day before hanging out with another rhino but he was not going to hang around. After all of the ruckus with the chopper and us capturing his buddy he split.
The search party separated into four different groups, including the chopper. We all searched the area where we last saw him and rangers told us where he liked to hang out but to no avail. The deadline to find Erick loomed over our heads. We had to find him or he would remained horned and in danger of being poached. The chopper is only allowed flight times up to a certain time in the day and that was getting close and our final day in that area. We all split up into different teams to try and better our chances of finding him. As we drove around the lake coast we picked up fishing nets that would pose a dangerous threats to wildlife. A small task but one that should not be avoided.
We just about gave up when the radio call came in that the rangers had found him. The call soon came in from the chopper that Dr. Keith Dutlow had darted him. We got the location and the race was on. The whole time Erick had been right near our camp and we were not really looking there. Smart chap! We spotted him, grabbed the oxygen and equipment and were quickly on foot. On this particular capture I was close to Dr. Dutlow rope in hand. Waiting instructions to come help push the rhino on its side if needed to. Erick was not going to go down easy. He walked around darted, fighting the sedative and not giving up. He then turned around and charged. The animal handler, Antone, ran. I ran as well, very fast! I turned to see where the rhino was and where I needed to run too, but the sedative was starting to kick in. I cannot remember if Erick was given a second dart. What I do remember is my brother running thru some bushes that no one normally would have ran thru and the speed at which he did. He thought like I did, if the animal wrangler runs, you better run too!
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| Wildlife Vet marking for dehorning |
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| Dehorning in process, vitals being looked and checked as ranger spray with water to keep cool |
Erick finally sat down and the team went to work. Tagged, blood samples taken and the dehorning all went smooth. Dr Lisa Maribini told everyone to start backing away as Erick was about to be given the reversal. Erick stood up, turned to look at us and walked away.
As the AWARE team drove away, Erick wandered into the bush and disappeared. Everything had gone well. All the rhinos in the area were finished and the feeling of accomplishment felt great. The drive back was not far at all, actually showing how close he was to camp.
Back at camp, we unloaded and were getting ready for dinner. The sunsets are breathtaking near the body of water we were at, so I grabbed my sketchbook and headed toward the stone pier. The amount of birds was going to be be perfect to watch and sketch. As I sat down to draw, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. It was Erick! He was walking to the edge of the water and munching on some grass. He grazed for about five minutes and slowly walked towards me. I was not going to take any chances so I climbed up on a stone structure to make sure I had some protection just in case. He continued to walk forward but wasn't interested in me, there was just good grass where I was. He came very close and stopped. I grabbed a ballpoint pen and marker and sketched him. It was as if he knew he was modeling. A beautiful specimen of a rhino stood there still while I drew. It was unreal! He would go down get some grass and hit the pose. After I did the quick drawing he slowly walked away. A white winged friend even landed on his rear as he was walking away. The experience was surreal but one I will never forget. He disappeared into the bush as the night moved in. I hope I see you again soon Erick and that you will be left alone to enjoy the grass and the rest of your life.
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| Selfie with Erick before it was too close for comfort |
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