Randomivity.

Hourly comics

So today, my roommate and I decided we were going to challenge ourselves doing a Hourly Comics project. The challenge consists of drawing one comic strip an hour for the entire day, totalling 12 to 14 strips.

This is if you can actually draw that fast. We discovered we don’t. We drew for 7 hours – Magali managed 6 strips, I managed 5, before we had to call it quits. In all though, not a bad attempt. We may have to do this more often, I still have topics galore to attack with the simple 4-panel strip format. I find my style is extremely stiff, so doing it more often will undoubtedly allow me to loosen up. I think it also has to do with having to draw smaller than to what I’m accustomed to make it fit all in those small-ish panels.

Speaking of loosening up, I’ve been practicing doing 10 to 15-minute sketches with a brush pen from Yoga magazine pictures. Not too shabby.

And last but not least, I’ve been trying to finally define a style for my long-term story. We’re moving away from Manga-style (not that there’s something wrong with that style, but I want to explore other venues!)

That’s enough drawings for now!

Whew! It had been so long since I’ve continuously drawn like this – I hope I’ll be able to sketch 10 to 15 minutes a day at least to get some speed and flexibility so I can finally start telling my story one day, instead of always referring to it!!

Until then, thanks for reading and checking out my random ramblings!

January 14, 2012
atlantis, comics, friends, life, music, whacky
1 comment

Viper

I guess I forgot to post this a while back. I drew this for my roommate’s birthday in July – this is her character, Viper, part of a story she writes with a friend. Slightly post-apocalyptic world, so I figured the sunsets would be interesting there – that and she seems to like to associate red with this character (I wonder why … *ahem*). This was done right after Girl Dreams of Sunset.

The Only Child

This is the trailer to the short film I scored this summer, The Only Child. Ghost story matched up with a youth facing her fears and moving on.

How to Survive Writing a Graphic Novel

… I think this is also applicable to “How to Survive Writing a Large Musical Work” – which I am doing right now. More on that later. (Click on image for amusing post.)

I’ve just recently discovered the publishers First Second Books. They’ve got great stuff, online and printed. If you’re slightly inclined to read graphic novels, I strongly suggest you check them out!

The Hidden Words – CD launch!

Last Saturday marks the official release of our CD, from The Hidden Words! It has been a good year now that most of it had been recorded, but we wanted it to be done correctly – and so here it is.

The launch was performed at the Montreal Baha’i Center, with the six members of The Hidden Words and a wonderful group of people we affectionately dubbed “The Hidden Words Auxiliary Choir” – needless to say, we had a blast.

The show was opened by a good friend of ours, Dina Cindric, bringing to life some Croatian folk music, a few of her own tunes, and a beautiful rendition of an English marine tune ( which name I can’t quite recall at the moment) with another wonderful singer, Katherine Black.

For now, the CDs can be purchased directly by contacting one of the HW members, and you can hear the entire CD on our bandcamp page, where you can purchase the mp3 version. You can also visit our Facebook band page, where you can also find pictures, upcoming show dates, and interviews.

Caring Is Cool CD Compilation!

Hey all!

I think I forgot to mention this awesome band with whom I’ve been lucky enough to perform for the past year. The name’s The Hidden Words, and it mainly focuses on setting the texts of the same-titled compilation of beautiful spiritual gold nuggets, “The Hidden Words“, by Bahá’u'lláh. Other texts sneak in here and there from the same Author, and also from the Báb.

Here’s a video for our upcoming CD launch in late October! (Details to come!)

And another fun live one!

Anyway, long story short, Alden Penner (singer/songwriter of Hidden Words) was asked to create a song for a benefit CD compilation where 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Relief International’s Recovery Effort in Japan. (Earthquake was in March but they still need help y’all!) The project is spearheaded by the lovely Charlyne Yi (Paper Heart, 2009).

Most of the band ended up pitching in for Alden’s tune and it turned out to be a fun bouncy song about … a snake. Anyway! The compilation is due to be launched on the 1st of October in L.A., and on the 8th of October on iTunes and CD Baby! Site is here: http://caringiscool.com/ – There’s a sample on the site – ours is the last one on the track.

Next shows with Hidden Words:

Sunday, Oct. 2nd, 9:30pm – Casa Del Popolo (4873 Boulevard Saint-Laurent), Opening for a great African artist, Sidi Touré

Girl dreams of sunset

Sometimes, I wish I was riiiiight there.

On another note, I just learned how to draw a background! Yay! Less detail on character, more detail on environment!

Maybe a little too much pointillism on the tiny waves towards the horizon, doesn’t quite fit with the rest.

Sphères 1 – orchestral recording

A piece I wrote for the string ensemble Arkea – this is a live recording from the concert on the 13th of March 2011. The commission was to write a 10-minutes piece for the ensemble and solo quartet (which was placed in the back of the hall, so they sound quite far from the mic in this recording), an overture for a concert dedicated to early 20th-century French music (aka Debussy, Ravel, Fauré …) – so my style had to match theirs. For one glorious month, I was in the wonderful habit of waking in the morning and going directly to the piano to write this.

Here is the link to the recording: http://soundcloud.com/mcsaindon/spheres-1

The title refers to the constant cyclical and arc-shaped structure and harmony present throughout the piece. For lack of a better title. :P