7 Months Old!  Growing too fast!

Our New Arrival

So it has been forever since we posted on our blog. A lot happened in 2011. McLean went back to school and I got a new job. A lot of good things happened, but the best thing that happened was our little Jack Jack was born on November 27, 2011. He was our little surprise. He was 6lbs 11oz and 19 inches long. He is a funny little guy. So this blog will probably be just about him most of the time. He looks exactly like his dad. His nickname is "mini mac." We love him so much!!!

Avatar Now!

In my digital tools class we were learning and going over Adobe Photoshop. Our main assignment for that program was to take a self portrait and turn ourselves into the blue aliens from the movie Avatar. Today we critiqued and graded each other on how well did. Here is what I came up with. Enjoy.




Take note that all of the elements from the background to the foreground have been altered, shifted or created from scratch. It was fun, but I still prefer pencil and paper.

The Geek Zodiac

Behold, your new Geek Zodiac character! Now, accept your destiny!




I was so happy to find out that I'm an Optimus Prime. And I don't care what anyone says, I'm excited for Transformers 3 coming out later this summer.

One Quarter Down...

So comes the end of my first quarter of school. It was a fun first quarter full of stress, headaches, and sleepless nights. Ya know, the typical things that come with school. I also gained a new experience with school, that being a 4.0 GPA! That's right, I earned "A's" in all my classes and hopefully I can do it again. The other thing I discovered is that with all of my transfer credits from SLCC, I am now, technically, in my second year of school! I'm that much closer to my goal. However, I still have much to learn and will enjoy my sojourn through school.

Working on my final project for Color Theory.

The finished final product of my Color Theory project.
A Color Wheel with other color studies, all hand painted and mixed.

Spread the Word to End the Word!

It's that time again to spread the word to end the word. To raise awareness against hateful words. Namely the R-word. I have had personal experience with this word in my life and other hateful words against my two brothers. Stand up to the R-word and other offensive words that are derogatory in nature. And if you use the R-word it shows your lack of education and lack of the english language. Evolve into something better.

MP Design

Here is a shorter post than last time. These are some work up's of my initials that I made in my design class using the Gestalt Figure/Ground principle. Any votes for a favorite? And yes I know one is reminiscent of the MTV logo. Wasn't thinking when I made it.

Music Snob?

Now I know that not many of you will read all of this post, and that's okay. I know that some will disagree with me and that's okay. You are entitled to your own opinions and so am I. I wrote this based off of what happened last Sunday...

Mary and I were watching the Grammy awards the other night. Listening and watching the supposed "best" of music. Which some were rightly given the award in there perspective category. And others I believe did not deserve such a prize. I was making comment about these "artists" and their wins and performances, when half way through watching and discussing with Mary, she calls me a music snob. This came after she asked me why I do not like the band Muse? My response to that was, "I think they're boring and they're trying to make their music seem bigger and more grandiose than it is and they are over rated." Who knows, I may very well be a music snob. One thing is for certain is that I just like good music from talented artists, from all different genres.

I do not care for most of the modern artists of late. It has become a music world of pop music with the same drum beat of bass snare bass snare bass snare and so on. It has also become a world of the auto tuner. A device, that for some artists is an effect for vocals, for most of the mainstream pop, r&b, rap and even rock, they use this devise to correct their voice that is not hitting the right note or pitch and you get this wha-wha sound in the vocals. I don't mind a little effect, however if you use the same effect for every song you either cannot sing live or you're lazy. One other thing that bugs me are "artists" that take other musicians songs and loop them to sing over them. I don't mind covers, I really enjoy covers. Most of the songs that the Glee cast sings are really good and sometimes better than the original. All I'm saying is, for those artists that make a new song out of an old song needs to stop. I also gauge an artist on how they perform live. If they can sing well, play their instruments well, and have an energy that is infectious, it shows true talent and musicianship. A big stage production, laser show, back-up dancers and even the artist themselves dancing and showing off their moves does not impress me much. I want to see the talent. On a side note, the only artist that can dance and sing is Michael Jackson. During the Grammys there were performances by: Muse, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Usher, Arcade Fire, and Katy Perry. But, the one artist that wiped the floor with them was Mick Jagger. For a guy that is 67 years old, he didn't even break a sweat. He was also the one artist that got that entire audience on their feet. Legend.

Finally after my long rant, to which you can be the judge if I'm a music snob or not, I have included a list of forty bands or artists that I listen to and that I think are good and have real talent, in no particular order.


THE TOP FORTY I LISTEN TO

1. Dave Matthews Band
2. Zach Brown Band
3. AC/DC
4. Aerosmith
5. The Beatles
6. Bill Withers
7. Billy Joel
8. Celtic Woman
9. Chicago
10. Phil Collins
11. Andy McKee
12. Diamond Rio
13. The Eagles
14. Elvis Presley
15. Eric Clapton
16. Fleetwood Mac
17. Frank Sinatra
18. Garth Brooks
19. Green Day
20. Jack Johnson
21. James Taylor
22. John Mayer
23. John McLaughlin
24. Kenny Chesney
25. The Civil Wars
26. Michael Jackson
27. Michael Buble
28. Miles Davis
29. Mumford & Sons
30. Norah Jones
31. Pearl Jam
32. John Legend and the Roots
33. The Police/Sting
34. Ray Charles
35. The Rolling Stones
36. Rush
37. Santana
38. Reba McEntire
39. U2
40. Keith Urban

Just know that there is more than this list. If you do end up reading this list please list your top ten artists in the comments section.

One last thing, if you want check out this video from the Grammys that includes John Mayer, Nora Jones, and Keith Urban singing Dolly Parton's song, 'Jolene.' Talent.

GLEEKED OUT!!!

So it has been a really long time since I have posted something. I am a total GLEEK! I now have 63 songs on my ipod. It might seem obsessive, but they sing their songs so much better then the original artists. I didn't have to work today so I have been blasting my ipod while I clean my house. It was awesome! I got so much accomplished. So thank you GLEE!

Robots and Design Class

Working on images for my design class, I'm feeling more and more confident. I am the only one in the class, it seems, that thinks outside the box. Also, I'm the only the one hand drawing stuff and doing more than basic shapes on a computer to show design principles. It seems that my teacher likes that and pushes me to try advanced ideas. I like this design I came up with: Robot in a trench coat. Simple and fun.

A Delicate Weapon...

Apparently, Santa thought I was very good this year. I got the gift of a lightsaber! And not a cheepy one either. It's a full scale replica of Darth Vader's lightsaber! Lights. Sound. Everything! When I opened it for Christmas, I had to really pull in the reigns of super geeky-ness that would have exploded all over Mary, the Christmas tree and my new prize! In the words of Comic Book Guy, "Best Christmas present EVER!!!"

"A delicate weapon, for a more civilized age."



















Yes, it is a dark laundry room. And yes it is that bright!

OH Bra Where Art Thou?

So I had an interesting day at work the other day. I got up and was getting ready for work. I wore a big sweater and a tank top underneath it. The day was a great day. No drama just a normal day at work. I got home around eight that night and was just lounging around. I took off my sweater cause I was hot and went up to the bathroom. I was standing in front of the mirror and suddenly realized something was missing. It was my BRA. I didn't wear a bra all day long. I must have been in a hurry to get to work and forgot to put it on. Thank goodness for the big sweater. It was hilarious though. I went all day not wearing a bra and didn't notice at all. I believe I am turning into my mother.

Portfolio

So today I went and showed my portfolio to some of the art teachers and directors at Broadview University. It went very well I thought. They told me I was the only one that actually brought in a good looking portfolio in way of the presentation. We had a nice chat lasted about 20-25 min. They were very easy to talk to and very plesent. The whole experience got me geared up for school, excited to start and determined to be the best. But, like everyone, I have to start at the bottom. The fun will start Jan 3.

Jack Bauer Interrogates Santa Claus

Well it's that time of the year again. And we just love this video! Hilarious! This is a battle of wits fit for the ages! Jack Bauer vs Santa Claus!

Sequential Imaging and First Postings of Art Work

Well, I (me, McLean) have officially been accepted into Broadview University in their Bachelor of Fine Arts in the Sequential Imaging degree. Now you may be asking yourself, "what the crap is sequential imaging?" Sequential imaging is the ability to tell a story with pictures. So, I will be learning to do illustrations for books, storyboards for movies, character/vehicle/background design for movies and video games, and learn how to write, pencil, ink, color and layout comic books and graphic novels. And that's just a few things. It will definitely make me a better artist and get into a field I love. Mary also thinks I should start to show off a little bit. I normally don't show off my work too often. Mainly because I never think it's good enough to show. But, Mary thinks I should start since my art will be seen more. So, I'll just start with a few right now and more will soon follow.


This first one is a self portrait. This one was long and grueling, because it is made up of small squares that each have a different shade of gray in them. So up close it just looks like distorted shades of gray, but when you stand back you see the image. Distorted Me.














This one is a drawing of my beautiful wife Mary on our wedding day. I love the original picture that was taken by Luke Hansen. I just had to try and draw it. When I scanned it however, it doesn't really show the full value level because it's a little light. I did the best I could to make it stand out more just so you could see the title of it, Love.













I wanted to do something for Halloween, so I drew a zombie in a graveyard. After I penciled it something was still missing. I then decided to ink it. I've only done inking a few times before and I'm starting to really enjoy it.

















This last one it was not suppose to look like this. It started out as a picture of a young woman and I'm not sure what happened next. Maybe I saw a story about how more women are going under the knife to acheve beauty. Maybe I had just watched Terminator 2 and was inspired by the moving, hefty thumbs up as the terminator is destroyed. Maybe I dug deep into that creepy part of my imagination. Maybe it was a combination of all three. In the end it turned out like this. An Artificial Beauty.

Halloween 2010

So, another Halloween has come and gone. Mary and I had a lot of fun at the Harman Great Pumpkin Carving Contest on 10/30. We had good fun with family, sparklers, pizza, pumpkins and the destroying of one said pumpkin. Mary didn't care how hers turned out so her brother Matt threw it into the field in the back of his house. It took two attempts, but he got it in the field.

(Last years pumpkin by Mary -Iron Man)

(McLean's pumpkin this year)

Also that same day I helped my Mom set up her garage for her trick or treaters to come through. Every year my parents set up there yard or garage in some sort of theme. We've done everything from pirates, to dead hunters, to zombie auto mechanics, to killer farmers. This year we did a spooky restaurant called, The Full Moon Cafe. Later that evening the boys, Spencer and Ross, go on their traditional Trick or Treating garb and went around the block. I'm sure they startled some folks by how scary they looked.

ARCHES!!!

The time has come and past, where the Harman family goes to the Arches National Park. The road was long, yet the scenery, once you get into southern Utah, was nice. But, when you get into Arches, you are met with awe inspiring landscapes that are both eerie and beautiful at the same time. It's like an alien world! And with my imagination, it was an alien world... Either that or I was in the wild west... I did play with some toy dinosaurs with our little niece Sophi. But, it was all about her entertainment, I swear! Anyway we did a bunch of hiking to various arches. I even went on my own walkabout in the wilderness. When I got back to camp Mary was a little mad and worried. I did apologized very quickly after seeing her. Mary and I did go to Skyline Arch and looked down on the rock that I proposed to her on and watched the sun set from there too. At the end of the trip when we packing up our tent, we came to find that we had been sleeping on a little lizard. Thinking it dead, we carried on with packing up. Then it moved... not very well, but it moved. With a limp. We had maimed a poor little lizard in our sleep. Now it's going to be easy meal for some predator. But, that is the cirle of life. As we drove away we thought that it's only 364 days till the next trip back to arches.


Delicate Arch

In Skyline Arch and nervous. Very nervous.

"There can only be one true king of the dinosaurs!"

So excited!

Farting Arch-The most mysterious arch of all the arches

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen

So, today 10/09/2010, is my last day working for Eyemasters. It seems that my time there has flown by so fast. I have worked there for just under 7 years. I made some good friends, allies, memories, some I would like to keep and others I would like to forget. And of course I met my beautiful wife, Mary, while working at Eyemasters. That's the best thing that Eyemasters had given me. And perhaps why I stayed so long. But, now it is time for a change. A time for something new. Abyssinia Eyemasters!

State Fair!

Mary didn't care for the smell of the animals at the fair. Our niece Sophi had a run in with a goat. And I laughed the entire time!



At the army reserve tent Harman passed on some literature for me to read. Fat chance.

Oh, let us not forget the funnel cake! Sweet, glorious, only good when it's warm funnel cake. First time for Mary and Marci.
Also thinking about about trying to get some art in the fair's art show next year. We'll see.

The R-word

The R-word has slipped into everyday vocabulary with ease. Some use it and don't even realize they are saying it. Most say it and don't think about who they are offending. It is a word that must be stopped. Come up with a different word to describe someone or something you think is being dumb or stupid. What is the R-word? Retard or retarded. I hate these words. I have only seen the ugly side of these words. Having two brothers with autism and over the years hearing them be called: freak, spaz, dumbass and stupid. But, the one word that always hurt the most was hearing them be called a retard. It's a vile word that I rank near the top of offending words. So when I hear some one use this word to describe someone who is acting strange or slow or dumb, it sends a shock through my body. Have you ever noticed you never really hear that word on TV? It's because it is an offensive word much like the n-word or the word fagot. You don't hear those on TV much do you? It's a word that needs to be eradicated from everyday vocabulary. If I hear you say this word I will give you a warning to not use it around me again. If I hear you say it again I will give you an example of what it's like for me. Please do not make it to this point. For a while I just brushed off this word for fear of offending someone. Then I realized I'm the one they are offending. And I will be giving an education.