The Ennedi Desert

From the Exploration Unit

Do yourself a favor and google image search "The Ennedi Desert."

I'm VERY familiar with most of the major rock formations and arches found in the southwestern United States. So when some interesting formations from the Ennedi desert popped up in a few searches and I didn't recognize any of them, my curiosity was piqued.

This place is a treasure of inspiring rock formations and vistas. Seems like every corner of this desert is a shot for a Star Wars location.

Located in northeastern Chad the region has a sparse population of semi-nomads, chiefly Muslims who speak the Dazaga dialect.

Will definitely be referring to this the next time I need to design an alien landscape.

I pulled images from these three websites: LINK and LINK and LINK​

-Jake

Kepler's Intergalactic Guide to Spaceships

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From the Special Projects Unit

Been going through my archives and found a TON of spaceship drawings. Decided to make an art book celebrating sci-fi spaceships.
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This is the cover art. Kickstarting this thing in June.

Instead of doing DRAWINGS 6 (which is a tough entry point for new fans) and instead of reprinting my DRAWINGS series I’m going to make themed books.

The first one to test this strategy:

“Kepler’s Intergalactlc Guide to Spaceships”

Part comic. Part art book. ALL spaceships!

Here's the Kickstarter Pre-launch Page: LINK​

If this is something you are excited about, please click "Notify me on launch" so I can gauge interest in this project before I launch!

Here's a close ups of the original art for that cover:

JOIN THE DISCORD COMMUNITY HERE: LINK​

It's been a ton of fun seeing what people are posting and discussing over there. The newsletter has it's own thread so you can discuss what I share with other like-minded folks. Come on over, grab a snack and join the party!

-Jake

The Art of the Smear

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From the Art Department's Craft Mastery Special Unit

Smear frames in animation is a creative solution to making animated characters move with more fluidity in a short amount of frames. This webpage does an EXCELLENT job at explaining it with interactive examples.

THE ART OF THE SMEAR: BREAKING DOWN A SECRET ANIMATION TRICK LINK

I share this because someone recently posted screen grabs of all the smears from the recent 3D animated Spongebob film. Each of these frames is like a Dali painting. Brilliant work by the artists at Mikros, who animated the film.

Tons more here: LINK

(via @PunzieSfw)

-Jake

On To-Do lists

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From the Inspirational Thought Unit

Here's a productivity tip I picked up from a Tedx talk by Rory Vaden: How to Multiply Your Time​

To-Do List Questions:

1) Can I eliminate this task?

2) If I can't eliminate this task, can I automate it?

3) Can it be delegated, or can I teach someone else how to do this?

4) Should I do this task now, or can I do it later?

Often times I get overwhelmed with to-dos piling up and I keep forgetting this advice. When I look at what is really streamlined in my life it's because I have applied this advice in the past. The trick it to keep remembering ask myself these questions!

-Jake

Filper Beta 200

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From the Office of Aerial Design

If history had charted a slightly different course we might be flying these to work today. I love this unconventional design and the optimism of this project from the 60s. Unfortunately, a flight test resulted in a fatality of a pilot and the project was scrapped. The company making these went into making peach-pitting machines. I guess that's important too.

You can read more here: LINK​

-Jake

DEMOBAZA

From the Fashion Desk in cooperation with the Department of Character Design

Hard to believe this is an actual fashion designer and you can purchase these outfits to wear outside the house. The whole aesthetic for DEMOBAZA is neo-post apocalyptic punk. Those are my words, because believe it or not, the way they describe their clothing is a more of a mouthful:

"DEMOBAZA is a project beyond fashion, that works for the creation of the next dimension. This is the natural progress to a new vibration through galactic transition, enlightenment of the soul and awakening of the consciousness."

It's not my style, but this is an incredible resource for character design. Will be bookmarking this website for future reference!

Check out their incredible collection on their LOOKBOOK page here: LINK​

-Jake