Daniel Burnham, notable American architect, was quoted after his death as saying, “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably will not themselves be realized.”

Burham designed Washington Union Station, where I work, and was the genius behind the national mall in Washington…amongst many other grandly realized city plans.

This led to an amusing discussion of undead wise men and weird inventions…

Well, nobody said in what direction that inspiration had to go! Or–as is often asked–what constitutes greatness? The idea is not to dream of what you can’t do, but what you can do. And ‘plans’ means to me keeping your feet on the ground and staying fed and sane, while exploring the realm of the possible, one’s inner greatness.

It is so very easy to crush one’s spirit right out of existence; I am seeing it in my father-in-law, who asks to die every day–and he’s not especially moribund.

I love what Masha Holl, a writer friend, has said about the Art and the Craft being the point of a writer’s journey. That’s definitely the Word on the subject. I have come to this wisdom myself fairly late.

It is possible (that word!) that the point of all this is less the finished product at the end of the project and more what you know yourself to be as a result of having done it: having the discipline and strength to continue with your long-term project (art, writing, weight loss, music…) which adds up in the end to self-respect.

The BPA Sent Help

Courtesy of Ed Averill of Austin, TX:

Frozen Zombie-Land (To the tune of “Winter Wonderland”)

Sirens blare, are you listening,
In a pool, blood is glistening
A horrible sight,
Surely a fright.
Screaming in a frozen zombie-land.

Gone away are the living
Lots of brains, they were giving
We’re shouting in fear
As they grow near
Screaming in a frozen zombie-land.

In the meadow we can stack the corpses,
Plenty of them all around the town
We’ll say: are they buried?
They’ll say: no man!
A zombies place just isn’t underground!

Later on, we’ll perspire
As we set them afire
We’re deathly afraid
Of the monsters we’ve made
Screaming in a frozen zombie-land.

This is what I wrote to her. I feel OK about posting a private message because it doesn’t really include any personal details, other than what you could find online generally in that forum, if you were inclined.

This is hardly the whole shootin’ match, just a toe in the water on the subject.

* * *

Funny, I was thinking about how I could help you realize what you had in mind. I recognize that frustration! I think everyone experiences it–the trick is to be persistent in practicing and not worry about the quality so much as trying to execute it as best one can.

Once I got home I got a decent look at the picture (my work monitor sucks dead bears), and I doubt that your character’s androgyny is an issue. The folks who post in the VN thread–well, you’ve met them. They’re pretty broad-minded. However, there was a combination of issues that probably stumped them as how to reply, and our most helpful people are all missing in action for personal reasons right now. You’re stuck with me!

So I was thinking, instead of trying to “fix” that picture, let’s step back for a moment and see where you were trying to go with it–I was basically thinking the same thing you were.  Leaving aside the wonderful idea of a chair of men    perhaps you could tell me what you wanted to do or where you want to go for the next effort?

There’s always homework. I’m thinking that it might be good to put some images *into* your head to mix around and inform your thoughts. What films do you favor? What would be really useful is to watch some good films in the genre on DVD where you can stop them and really *look* at the scenes that attract you to absorb what’s going on there. And look at some really well-done comics and graphic novels, too.

Films that are good for studying are the orginal Blade Runner (of course!) just for its mood and camera work, and probably the original Underworld. I’m trying to think of others that go with your goth/magick/adventure sensibility. The two Hellboy films have been excellent visually (as well as just plain awesome). Batman Begins is not a bad one, either.

Of course, looking at this picture, I immediately suggest that you read ANY of Mike Mignola’s graphic novels–the Hellboy series–because he does mood and action and composition just so damned well. The Dark Knight graphic novel is awesome, and the original Watchmen is not to be scorned, either.

Notice that I did not include any video games, though there are some undeniably wonderful ones. However, if you are doing still art, video games (and, well, sometimes movies) get you nowhere–because the excitement is all in your own head and in the thing you’re doing, and not sitting in front of you, really, if you think about it. Example: if you were playing the chap with the enspelled SAWs facing the demon, that would be exciting. However, standing to the side to watch that showdown…not so much, necessarily. His situation doesn’t look dire: there’s plenty of room for him to run away, and the reason he’s fighting the beastie is just not apparent or sufficient motivation. Me, I kept thinking, “Run, you idiot, and call in the air strike!” He’s not backed into a corner, in other words. If he *were*–then people would be holding their breath. But you have him at a safe (relatively) distance from the demon–at balanced, opposite sides of the picture, which is a very static arrangement–and just fixing to gun it down. Where’s the fun in that?  OK, those were just my opinions, but do you get my drift, there? You would need to create some drama *in that moment.* The demon would need to be about to grab him–up close & personal–with the guns in its face, and the guy can’t get away because his back is up against the fire. Granted, that might happen in the next frame–but you needed to show that teeth-gritting edge to us. Really, it comes with practice and observation.

But, you might say, movies and comics are about a progressing plot, too–yes, as are stills, but they are required by the non-participatory nature of the medium to present more compelling single images or scenarios, especially in scenes of conflict. Also, good directors will make sure that *every* scene is well-composed and meeting their goals, not just setting up a plot and letting you figure it out on your own. Still art is more like movies in that respect. And comics are even more to the point: *every* frame has to contribute in some way, so you’re more likely to see good examples there.

Wow. Here is were I’d say, “Time to fire up the microwave. We’re going to watch some movies and find good examples.” How dare you be in Canada! LOL! Oh well.

So, tell me something about what you want to depict. If you can say it in words, that may help to bring it to the front of your mind so you can figure out what to show.

There is an aspect to doing the art that is like a marksmanship sport–or bowling, even! You an analyze what you want to do, figure out how to acheive that–but when it comes time to step out and fling that ball or raise the bow or gun, you don’t have time to analyze, you just go with the moment. You have to trust your subconscious to deliver the goods as desired–and that just takes repetition and training. Eventually, the *ideas* come easier, so you can have headspace while you’re working to think about technical details.

* * *

Anyhow, I think I’ll keep posting tips like this, at least to record them for future reference.

Back last summer one of the ConComm wrote and invited me to be a guest—a speak on panels and amuse the attendees sort of thing—probably since I was the Artist GOH in 2000. It took me a while to get my head together on the subject and I did reply in the affirmative in August. Organizational issues not withstanding, Peter (who was doing registration) was gracious enough to let me in as a guest. Kay had to pay her own way, so I bought her lunch both days. The things she’ll do for sushi, honestly.

I got a much warmer reception than I expected, really, given that Kay and I were fairly cheesed off when we withdrew from those groups almost seven years ago. However, the hatchet’s been buried—and not in anyone’s head. The Gaylactic Network folks are decent people. As an organization, it has its flaws, but no more or less than many such. We ain’t none of us perfect. I’m glad that their current Speaker (president) is minded to make some changes, and I wish him luck with it. I just don’t have the time or energy to devote to that again—and Kay and I tried to make changes, too. Hopefully we planted some seeds way back then, and Wayne can make it work now.

Their current webgeek, Andrew, asked me what we could do with their site, and what do you know? The Open Source CMS that I use for the Great American Stations web site (I’m the site producer and webmother) is primarily a community-building tool. Hah. Building a Plone site is no picnic, let me tell you. However, it’s not that awful if you use a lot of the out-of-the-box features. Tweaking the skin really hard, however, as we did at Amtrak, is a trying enterprise. The learning curve can be steep, in that case. Nonetheless, Plone will let you build a really useful object base and let you concoct custom views into it. The Network needs something that will help them create a knowledge base, and special hosting needs aside, this will do the trick.

So, back to the convention. I sat on two panels, “How do you like your women,” and “Erotica in the Genre.” Egad! Smut AND geekification. Can it get any better? I don’t think so. The first panel didn’t do much, since opinion panels are full of…well, opinons. Boring. I sat and looked out upon the four or five women who had wandered in and they gazed back unconcernedly. I whispered to the butch next to me, who whispered back. Bad manners, that. Sorry. We all agree that Amanda Tapping is Hot. So is Gina Torres.

The second panel was quite interesting in that it talked about how mainstream or not erotica had gotten for sci fi/fantasy/horror (in books and media), and the GOH, Geoff Ryman, was fun to listen to. No, not THAT kind of interesting. Many useful writerish tidbits in that discussion. An interesting observation: men having the sort of romantic relationships women write about (especially in slash) IS the fantasy part of the story…which I thought was pretty funny. It made me think that what I’ve written isn’t too far off the mark, in terms of describing believable males.

Geoff also said something along the lines of men’s taste in erotica basically stultifying at age 13. Delicately put, that’s a partner ready to do the deed around every corner. This is interesting in light of people’s comments read on the DAZ3D Commons in a recent debate on the subject of “Have Women Lost Their Femininity,” which provided weeks of entertainment and many fine opportunities for absurdity. There were several gentlemen who allowed that they do say no, from time to time. Or that they just can’t find someone appropriate. In other words, they sounded like adults…but that’s real life, not fiction. No telling what they fantasize about…but of course, a look at their 3D Poser galleries would tell you in an instant.

All in all, things went rather better than expected. I did talk to Alicia Austin at length, as well as Geoff Ryman, and enjoyed both conversations immensely. Alicia’s been in fandom as an illustrator for donkey’s years, and her fine draftsmanship hasn’t wavered in all this time. She’s quite a lovely, down-to-earth person, too. Geoff is droll, witty, and Englishy. Kay got her sushi lunch, we caught up with old friends, and made some new ones. Well done. Thank you, Kay, for kicking my butt and making me go.