Hello, my name is Simon...

For my birthday, my family got me a drawing pad. For the longest time, I've wanted to try my hands at digital art. I liked the idea of being able to try out different mediums without having to drop major dollar for supplies, and I always felt a bit too self conscious to take a class where other people would see my stuff as it developed. I don't like sharing my learning experiences until the initial discomfort subsides.

Wanting to continue the "cheap as free" philosophy that lead me to digital art in the first place, I found some open source programs to cut my teeth on. MyPaint has been my favorite. It's intuitive, well laid out, and super easy to get started with. It wasn't until I needed a few more options with cut-and -paste that I started working with Gimp - a photoshop-like program with some real muscle.

Much of what I've done is inspired by graphic designers and concept artists, my favorites are him, him, and him. The last one is an old friend of mine who let me bum some art supplies way back in college. Back story over. Now, peep the strategy:

The first two are mine. The third is a copy of one of Paul Christopher's paintings I really liked. The last is one I did of my nephew. Just a sample. I'll post more later.

Last night, the Spanish Lady and I attended two separate parties, separately. The occasion was a marriage, and the necessary farewell celebrations of forever-lost tax status-ees. What seemed odd was that the bachelorette party was hosted at hooters, while the bachelor party was held at the bachelor's home, with all the children who were too young to stay out attending. It wasn't all bust, (nyuk-nyuk) however, as we did have some fantastic ribs and a Chuck Norris/Bruce Lee/Chevy Chase triple feature to keep us occupied. As I lay on the floor with my two year old son, C., watching Lone Wolf McQuade demonstrate the lethal efficiency of shirtless roundhouse kicks, I was reminded of why people get married in the first place, and that watching sweaty, shirtless men isn't always gay. I even found a piece of fiction (pictured below) I could share with my soon to be daughter, O., when she has her own bachelor party. Perhaps, by then, there will be a film adaptation.

Then...