Welcome to Japan - Smells Like Death...

So, here it is. First post in awhile, but trust me, this one is well worth the wait. Aside from being super busy the last few months with a film, I now currently find myself in - come on, give it your best guess (check the title in case you're stumped). That's right - Tokyo, Japan! It's absolutely amazing, and by far one of the coolest things I've done in my adult life (learning to walk and talk are right up there, but that's why I added 'adult life'. ahem. anyway...)

I'm sitting here, at the end of my 3rd day, and all I can think about is how psyched I am that we have 11 more days here.

So, enough talk - let's get to the pictures, eh?

Japan - Day 1:

Needless to say, I still had the energy to be excited once we landed, even after 15 hours in the air:



The group outside the hotel, and then a funky picture from our welcoming dinner:





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The next day we awoke on the bright at 8:00 and ventured out to a City Bank to grab some Yen (which is surprisingly simple to use - the U.S. should take notes). After that, we got on the Tokyo Subway and headed out to Ueno Park. It is described best by my roommate, Andrew Miller - "It's like Central Park on crack" Perhaps a bit extreme, but you get the point...

We eventually went to the Tokugawa (probably butchered that spelling) Exhibit, which was showing a bunch of old Shogun goodies from way back when, like armor, tea ware, scrolls, and so on. It was really inspiring, and almost surreal to see all of this stuff just sitting inches from you. The highlight of the museum, though was definitely the Tea Garden - everyone should have one of these in their backyards. It was relaxing, and comforting, which seems to be the theme of the trip - I've yet to run into anything in Japan, from the people to the surroundings, that looks or feels rushed.

Anyway, enough talk, more pictures:

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After Ueno, some of the animation crew (dubbed Team 911 - Go!, after the room number of our professors room - the surley Jason Maurer Sensai) grouped with some sequential kids and hit up an Italian Japanese restaurant. Language barrier, Shmanguage barrier...we got food just fine.

Here's what I had. I know, you're jealous..
(I kinda lucked out, cause I had NO idea what I ordered)



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So, I think that's gonna be it for now. I'll update tomorrow, when I'm.....less.....exhausted? Yea, who am I kidding? But today WAS a long day, as we got up at the crack of ice to...well, I'll save that for tomorrow. Gotta leave you guys coming back for a reason, don't I?

SOUR 半月

This made me smile. The song is catchy after a few listens too.

A little test animation for today too. Crude, and basic. Took me a little under 15 minutes.

http://www.adamtoewsonline.com/animation/arm_test.swf

A Long, Hard Summer...

Observation of the day - You have a LOT of free time in the summer.

Actually, let me rephrase that. You have a lot of time that needs filling in the summer. Some people have no problem with that. They take what needs doing - work, school, sports, relaxation, socializing, etc. - and put it into its proper place and time, no looking back.

I, however, find it much tougher to put things into a set schedule. My job aside, trying to schedule school, my upcoming project, and my free time gets jumbled (and it almost pains me to admit I have a LOT of free time)

What's wrong with this you might ask? I don't like free time. Well, TOO much free time anyway. Too much free time turns on me REAL fast, and I get this ugly feeling in the pit of my stomach - like I just ate a 2 pound tub of mayonnaise - and the world starts to drain of color, flavor, spark; the world ceases to hold too much meaning. You're simply puttering around, wasting time.

Don't get me wrong - I'm getting things done, just, not as much as I'd LIKE to be getting done. And I guess that might have been the case for as long as I can remember. I need to start changing the way I think, and instead of focus on how much I'm not getting done (cause let's face it - if I focus on how much I don't get done, I'm only gonna continue to not get stuff done) I should be focusing on what I DID get done and try to build upon that each day. Seems logical to me anyway.

For now though, enough rambling. How about some nerdy fanart? An Orc Warrior from WarCraft:

I just realized I got a lot of stuff to scan in, but it shall get done!

Life in a pocket

I find myself worried from time to time.


I guess it's really only natural - I AM only human.


But to be at a time in my life when I'm supposed to define who I am, and I look around and I see such good art, I find my sense of who I thought I was starting to blur, and I forget that I CAN draw, and I AM good at what I do, and if I stop worrying so much about what other people's art looks like, and starting believing in what it is I can do, I gaurantee that I would be much more productive with myself.





so that's what I've been doing the past couple days.


and it feels good.





Anyway, I've been on a big Marvel stint this week - drawing wolverines, spider-mans, venoms, captain americas, iron mans .I have bc to thank for that. Looking at work from Ramos and Romita, jr.




I guess just a quick sketch and that'll be it for this one:





In the words of the late 70's rock groupd Boston: "Don't stop! Believin'!" You get the idea.

New Website

Coming soon.

http://www.adamtoewsonline.com

Rock Out With Your...Tablet Out?

hey guys.

long time, no post. I've been kept busy for the past couple weeks with homelife, adjusted living, and too much free time. I'm a glutton for punishment, and I procrastinate like a mad man when I'm presented with the oppertunity to do so. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I've been forced back on track with upcoming assignments and a big project on the horizon.

For the time being, though, I thought I'd show you what has been taking up most of my time as of late:

Highway Jackson, a buddies band of mine is fast approaching their cd release date. How do you describe Highway Jackson to someone? Well, imagine a band that grabs great old rock & roll groups like Led Zepplin, Lynard Skynyrd, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and The Velvet Underground by the balls and runs with it. They say their the bastard children rock left behind. I gotta admit - there's not many bands out there that can take the sound to TRUE old rock and roll, mix it with modern day funk, and make it sound true to its roots. These guys got it. For sure. "Smothered" sings of old love, featuring some great vocals by Lead Singer Kris Rogers. "Train Comin After You" features some blistering guitar work that would make any "Guitar Hero" grimmace, punching forward with a quick bass line and furious drum work that all syncs up better then any locomotive out there.

So, give em a listen anyway. Their CD release date is July 10th. I know it's gonna be jam packed with rockin tracks, and if you're in the new england area, and you manage to catch a show of theirs, be sure to grab a t-shirt, sticker, or other Highway Jackson schwag with yours truelys logo on it.

Support the cause, right?

Until next time.

*Disclaimer*
Please, do not taking the following too seriously. They are just words; rambling from my own head. They are not aimed to offend or enstrange.

Song of the moment: "Icky Thumb" by the White Stripes

Overheard an interesting bit of conversation today at Montgomery.

It was in reference to going out to bars and drinking.

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Guy: So, did you get the beers? Yea? Ok, cool. We'll head back after this. You comin'?
Girl: Yea. I'll go. But I don't drink, so...
Guy: Whatever. [pause] Dude, remember those [chicks] we met last weekend? They were funny as hell.
Guy 2: Yea man. They wouldn't stop laughing. It was hilarious.
Girl (interjecting): People you meet drunk aren't really friends. You can't make friends drinking.

awkward silence ensues for just a moment

conversation picks back up as normal. Guys leave to drink. Girl follows shortly after.

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So, in a round about fashion, that was the conversation, and brings me to the point of this blog: How can someone judge something if they haven't done it themselves? My personal philsophy (via ms. fiona apple) - "Make a mistake." You will not learn more about yourself then in the midst of a well made mistake (or perhaps in the throughs of deepening depression enduced by the violent end of a relationship.) It's when you're staring disaster in the face that you look at what you have and what you've become, and then, and really only then in my opinion, are you allowed to judge yourself. You've earned the credibility; the ability to say, "Trust me. I know. I've been there..."

Now, it's a dangerous game to play, and I'd advise anyone out there reading this to save your mistakes for your late teens and early 20's. Don't think you're gonna make a mistake and then turn back around and be all set. It's like burning yourself with a hot nail to see what it feels like. Yea, you learn what it feels like to be burned with a nail, but the scar you get from it is gonna be there forever. Or maybe you don't burn yourself that bad, and aviod a scar. Either way, how you choose to view your experience is up to you. You're the only one in charge of your actions. Take responsibility for your mistakes.

So, to end, I'd like to state that I've made some great friends via alcohal. You don't want to choose to create friendships based solely on alcohal (that would be a BAD idea), but you shouldn't knock it just cause it's "not your thing". I'm not stating that you'll never fully experience a night of fun with people you've never met all via alcohal, cause that's just my opinion, and cause it's your choice live sober and it's a valid choice too - completely and totally. Just try to understand others - that's all I'm sayin.


Ok, now to the art:




Just about done with the animatic. Supposed to have some character design done by 11. Here's to another 5 hour push.