Friday, August 24, 2007

I'll have to make this a fast post tonight...

No pun intended. :D
Impulse

I spent almost all day today in Lakeland and I got the chance to visit my old art teachers from Harrison at the Polk Museum of Art(Where all of my highschool art classes were held) and see some old faces. It was great. Being back in the class studio was like coming back home. It hasn't changed one bit. There was also this great gallery downstairs by this Cuban artist, Carlos Luna. His paintings were insanely amazing. He was there to talk abot his work with the students, so I came at just the right time. :) Thats what I always loved about having classes at the Museum instead of on campus--there was always some new gallery up by some amazing and uber talented artist whose work was on display all the way up to the studio. There was always some sort or inspiration or new visual input to be had to motivate and encourage students to try new things. Luna, through his son who translated, said something that I thought was very poetic: "You have to be dedicated to your art and live with it everyday. A painting is like a woman. She won't give you her body, unless you give her your soul. " ...It's moments like that that make me wish that I had never quit Harrsion, but ah well. Live and learn, I guess.

So, being out on the town today, I didn't have time to finish a sketch and get it to a scanner. So instead you get this: Impulse. I did it a day or two ago. Another favorite character of mine that I was introduced to in the pages of Young Justice. In an age of grit and dark storylines, he was always a fun and light character. Something I think DC Comics is missing these days. I wish they could bring him back again as Impulse and just retcon the last two or three years away. Maybe have a YJ revival. Theres already enough dark in the world--and I don't mind it in my comics,--but theres also room for a little escapism and a good laugh. Impulse was the creation of Mark Waid and the late Mike Wieringo, someone I have always been a huge fan of.

Wieringo is one of the reasons I started this blog. I have a lot of things I could say about him that others who actually knew him have already put in more eloquent words, so I'll just say that my prayers go out to his friends and family and that I hope Wieringo can see the huge impact he's made throught hundreds of tributes to him all over the net.

But...erm, yeah...Impulsey goodness. Enjoy.
Next week I'll start drawing recommended characters, so drop me a comment and lemme know you folks want.

Thats all folks,
Rachael
entry 3

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Barbara Gordon: Batgirl

Batgirl

I found a scanner today! :) lol. I was getting some typing paper from my grandmother's printer (to draw a layout page with) when I realized she has the same scanner/printer that I have back at home. I've been visiting my Grandma for four days now and I just now noticed it. >.< Oy.

I decided to post a Batgirl sketch I did last Sunday. I actually really liked Cassandra Cain as Batgirl. I know a lot of people don't care for her, but I thought she was pretty cool; however, Barbara Gordon will always be Batgirl to me--whether she's in a wheelchair or not.

Babs is my favorite comic book character, so I thought it would be apt for this to be the first actual "sketch" for my blog. I'm actually happy with the way this one turned out, especially the head shot. Feel free to lemme know what you think and to critique anything I put up on this blog. Any input, negative or positive, can only help. :D

Alrighty then, thats it for now.
See ya friday!
Rachael

entry 2

Monday, August 20, 2007

Intro

I did an Impulse sketch today that I really wanted to post; however, I don't have access to a scanner at the moment. So I dug through my old artwork that was in my portfolio for college and found an old Ult. Fantastic Four double page spread that I did last year from a Brian Michael Bendis script.

Click on the image to view a larger version of it on Flickr.
Ult. Fantastic Four Double spread-Graphite-17x22

I've probably started at least a douzen or so other blogs before only to forget about them and let them fall by the wayside, but now I'm determined to keep this one going. So now to get this intro stuff out of the way...

My name is Rachael Simmons. I'm 18 years old and live in Lubbock, Texas. Although, this post is currently coming from Lakeland, Florida where I'm staying with my sister.
I love anything Batman related and I love comic books and art even more. My goal is to break into the comic book industry one way or another.

As of right now, I'm not going off to college. I'm taking a year off to study by myself and with my friends at the local Sketch Club in Lubbock. In my free time, I love to read(books and comics), draw, paint, meditate, cook, waste hours on the internet in the name of procrastination, and go out for coffee(I need that caffiene fix). I'm a self-described spiritualist, idealist, and hopeful romantic with horrible grammar and spelling(Which is why I express myself with pretty pictures and not words. :P). I spend most of my time at home drawing, sleeping, and playing with my dashhound, Peanut. When I do leave my cave, it's usually to attend the Saturday Sketchclub or another art event with my comic book friends. Right now I'm in Florida visiting family and friends and sleeping on the couch of anyone who will let me. :P<

I'm looking forward to posting sketches on this blog every other day and keeping it updated as much as possible. I have a few sketches I'm currently working on, so as soon as I get to a Kinkos and get my hands on a scanner, I'll be sure to post em'. I'm looking forward to this ride. This is it...

Welcome to my blog.

R.L.S.
entry 1