88 Day - The Art Quest Project - Trophies from San Jose

Amazing Additions from Grand Prix San Jose

Last weekend was Grand Prix San Jose - basically in my back yard - and it was a 4-day event!  I was very excited; I didn't need to worry about airfare as well as being able to spend 4 days hanging out with a lot of my friends playing games!  Normally Grand Prix events are only 3 days, and as much fun as I have playing games, I also really enjoy meeting and talking with all of the artist.  With 3 days, I know that many of the artist are going to be really busy and so I try and not take up too much of their time with chit-chat, particularly because it takes me a few minutes to explain the Real Magic Deck art project to them as well as show them the cards that I've already had completed.  Having that extra day gave my a great opportunity to spend some time talking with some awesome artist and engage with them on other aspects of art. 

I was lucky enough to get to talk with Ken Meyers Jr., Mark Poole, Jason Felix and Chuck Lukacs (and got to meet John Severin Brassell and Kieran Yanner).  I want to mention that I have some absolutely awesome friends.  Many of my friends are scientist, engineers, teachers, actors, and other types of wicked-smart geniuses.  My IQ goes up 20 points just by osmosis hanging around them.  But I don't really have many friends who are artist (and I'm certainly not saying artist aren't wicked-smart geniuses, as the rest of this story will soon show).  This leads to much of my "artsy" discussions via the Internet and reading books.  So here I was presented with a chance to chat with many artist whom I've been a fan of for years, I was overjoyed.  

Just a sample of some of the things I got to experience:

Learning many new painting techniques which created some beautiful abstract pictures (and that I am very much looking forward to trying). 

Talking about the science of photography and how it has changed over the last 20 years (film to digital). 

The art and styling of steampunk, gothic-punk (think "Blade Runner") and Pin-Up art, just to name a few.

How artist connect emotionally with viewers (be it positive or negative).

Many types of music discussion, including techno-swing!  

And many more topics that just made my day (and entire event to be honest).  

I was also greatly encouraged by all of the artist I meet about this project - one even commented that he enjoyed the idea so much that he might create an entire deck based on his art, and I mentioned that I would love to be his first customer!  

As a bonus, during these conversations I realize my art project for next year!  I've already started the work spreadsheet and conceptual ideas.  More details on this later - I don't want to take away anything from these fabulous pieces!  

Burrenton Forge-Tender as the 8 of Diamonds

By Chuck Lukacs

Incremental Blight as the 3 of Spades

By Chuck Lukacs 

Ancestral Recall as the Joker (Diamonds)

By Mark Poole

Birds of Paradise as the 8 of Clubs

By Mark Poole

Guardian Beast as the 4 of Clubs

By Ken Meyer Jr.

Kird Ape as the 2 of Diamonds

By Ken Meyer Jr.

Ob Nixilis as the 6 of Spades

By Jason Felix

All is Dust as the 7 of Hearts

By Jason Felix

Valakut as the 6 of Diamonds

By Kieran Yanner

Summoning Trap as the 9 of Hearts

By Kieran Yanner

I have two more cards forthcoming from John Severin Brassell.  I was unable to connect with him until late afternoon on Sunday, so I knew it would be a situation that would require that they would be mailed, which I was fine with - I was just pleased that I got the chance to meet him.  As soon as the cards arrive I will be sure to post them here!  

89 Days - The Best "Worst" Grand Prix Ever

The Best "Worst" Grand Prix Ever

I recently returned from Grand Prix San Jose after 4 awesome days!  Two things happened at this Grand Prix that are polar opposites of each other, but together made for one of the most enjoyable Grand Prix's that I have ever attended.

Firstly, this was the worst that I have ever done at a Grand Prix.  The format was Team Limited; which is different from the normal Limited events that I normally play.  In a normal limited format, each player gets their own pool of cards and they play individually.  In Team Limited, you and two (awesometastic) friends join up to form a team and make decks/play with a combined pool of cards.  I joined with two friends who I was lucky enough to meet playing Magic a couple of years ago.  We practiced making decks, watched videos, reviewed cards, and basically felt we were ready to go!

One of the aspects that I enjoy so much about playing Limited-type games, is you receive a small (aka, "Limited") pool of random cards and that is all you get to build a deck with - and that's true for all of the player.  You don't need to spend a ton of money or have crazy-old cards to play.  In my opinion, it is the most balanced ways to play magic.  Now the thing about randomness is there will always be a curve, on average all of the card pools will be the same, but sometimes a group will open their pack of cards and get amazing cards that are all in sync and work perfectly together.  Other times you will get the cards that we opened.

During the main event of limited Grand Prix events, you are required to register your pool of cards, which basically means you have to write down all of the cards that you open so that there won't be any sort of cheating.  Once you open your cards and write all of the cards down, you pass those cards to someone else who actually gets to use those cards.  We were sitting at our table, opening our cards and writing down all of the cards that we had and were getting ready to pass them along.  While sitting there, we chatted with the other team across from us and they were joking around how bad the cards they opened were.  How all of the cards were weak and had no synergy.  We smiled and laughed along, because we all knew that when it comes to pass cards along, we normally pass 3-4 times.

The judges announced that each team pass the cards across the table.  We passed the pool we opened to the team and they passed us their cards.  We smiled, waiting for the judges to give the next pass order (such as "Pass right" or "Pass left").  The order came: "Okay everyone, that is your pool, begin deck construction".  The other team looked at us and we all saw the apologetic looks in their eyes.  They quietly began making their decks and would now-and-then sneak a peek back at us to see if we had started crying.

Our pool was just a total mess.  We were given time to make the decks and about halfway through we just started laughing.  At that point we knew decided we weren't going to worry about going 9-0, we were more worried about winning a single game!  My deck was so bad that it had an Old Maid, a 4 of diamonds, two "Wild, Draw 4" Uno cards, a business card from artist, my hotel room key, and a coupon from Subway for a free drink - lets just say not the best collection of things for a game of magic.

We made the best decks that we could and off we went!  And we were completely stomped.  A lot.  After three rounds, we somehow had a 0-2-1 result - and we were happy that we even had a draw!  It would have been loss, but we got lucky that time was called and somehow we held on just long enough to get the draw (I do want to apologize to the other team for that, we know it didn't help you guys out to get a draw, but for us that was a major accomplishment!)  After realizing that our only real chance of winning any of the future rounds was to have the other teams either all have brain embolisms or be hit by meteorites, we decided to drop out of the main event and instead go fight a lovely lunch!

After defeating a cheesesteak sandwich, we strolled back to the convention center and decided to do some team events.  I knew that we were prepared and certainly had the skills to play some team magic, but our results certainly had not shown that very well.  Staying upbeat, I got us queued up for a team draft, and to make a long(er) story, short - we kicked some butt!  We worked together and really supported each other and we ended with smiles and handfuls of prizes.

Secondly, other than the main event of the Grand Prix, I was playing some of the best magic that I have ever played.  My final results were 18-5-3 (not including main event), giving me a win percentage of 73%!  I won nearly 3.5 boxes, which was awesome!  I also got to play some of the top pros, and was even lucky enough to beat one.  I was also lucky to have played so many nice people over the 4 days (a couple "special" folk but nothing too bad).  Another bonus was having the fourth day - normally GPs are only three days - allowed me to meet and chat with quite a few of the artist (more on that in a later post).

Lots of magic, lots of good friends, one massive butt-kicking and handfuls of loot.  I guess I could have just posted that one sentence instead of all this craziness, but what fun would have that been!

Until next GP, have fun and enjoy the game!

90 Days - Discovering Artistic Styles - Pin-Up Art

Discovering Artistic Styles

Pin-Up Art

In my continuing effort to learn more about art and its history and styles, I'm going to share some of the things that I have learned about art.  I'm going to start with an artistic style known as pin-up art.  Pin-up art is a literal form of art, in that it is a low-cost, mass produced work that is meant to be "pinned on a wall" for display.  Old advertisements, postcards, paintings, photos, and sketches could all be considered pin-up art.

The most popular pin-up art, starting as far back as the 1880's is pin-up girls.  Usually of famous actresses or other stars of the day (think Marilyn Monroe), they were used to sell just about everything from soap, orange juice, and war bonds.  They were very popular during the 1940's-1960's.  Some of the more popular pin-up girl artist include Alberto Vargas, Rolf Armstrong, and Hajime Sorayama.  You can Google these artist, just be aware, some of the art may be risque and not quite appropriate for work.

In modern times, we now have band and movie posters, show playbills and even fine art calendars.  Remember, no matter the cost of the art, the most important part of art is how it makes you feel.  You might be moved by looking at the Mona Lisa but you could be just as moved as looking at a wonderful, antique postcard that you found at a swap meet.

The next time you see a picture that you like, pin it to the wall!

A Winning Combination

by Rolf Armstrong, 1945

http://www.thepinupfiles.com/armstrong.html

91 Days - Zen of Laundry

The Zen of Laundry

Laundry.  A relatively simple task, certainly not something that would cause any sort of deep, meaningful, introspective moments in life.  Or so you would think.  While doing laundry today I realized I have a lot of things that I just don't wear anymore and I asked myself: "Why am I keeping this things?"

A few things came to mind.  First, memories - many of these items have a memory from an event to place that I visited and whenever I wear them I try and relive that memory.  I am also a bit of a pack-rat, I never really throw anything away that I think I can either reuse or re-purpose later.  My dad taught me, any t-shirt to old to wear just became a brand new shop rag!   Regardless of how many new shirts that I get, I feel I can't possibly throw away any of the old ones, because you never know when you might need them!

Lastly, I hate being wasteful - I am sure there are folks out there who could use these clothes.  I'll even put them in a "donate box", but somehow they will somehow teleport themselves back into my drawers!

Today I decided that sometimes it's healthy to let some of these old anchors go.  Letting a t-shirt go will not take away any memories - in fact, in the act of letting it go I decided to write down some of the stories of how I got some of these shirts (random concerts, sports jerseys, etc.)  These items basically became small muses for me to write about, and I think that is the most that I could possibly ask of them.  Now I let some of them go, and perhaps they will help make memories for someone else.  And I'll finally get some darn drawer space for all my socks!

(Close up of Landry Room #1, by Theresa (Mixed media on canvas))