Learning things and what not

So yeah, I'm still learning and will continue to do so for the rest of my natural life for the most part. I've been studying hard now all the different pencillers and thier techniques to better myself and really paying attention to what it is I've been seeing you know? Really taking it all in and using that knowledge in my own sketches and drawings. I've been doing one big sketch a day for two days so far and will continue to do so I believe. I've been studying the Marvel Encyclopedia and all the different drawings in it and been picking one character that really strikes me as interesting and usually doing my sketch on them. I'm doing a real focus on line weight becasue that's mostly what I was told to practice on when I went to this passed months Big Apple Comic Con which was this May 2011. They told me that my storytelling was excellent (which they said is the most important part of being a comic book artist) and also that I'm very consistent with my characters from panel to panel (which is also a hard thing to keep up, two points ahead for me) but just to focus on line weight, and then the basics (i.e., proportions, perspective).

So yes that is what I'm doing! They also said to focus on whatever company I want to work for or a company that wouldn't be bad to work for just to get myself in the door. So I'm going to focus on the big two; Marvel and DC of course. I've been going through my more current comics that I've recently purchased to keep myself on the scene and picked out characters that are either popular or always popular and have written a three page story around them for each company. I also included my own original character "Ananami" copyright Mike D. Burke 2011. I'm making it so that he can fit into either universe depending on which one hires me. Here are the characters I've chosen: For Marvel; Dr. Strange, Dormammu, Wolverine and Spider-Woman. For DC; Red Robin, Batgirl and Batman. I've made it so that these stories need no dialogue as I am to focus mainly on the ability to draw a story panel to panel. One thing they also told me to focus on was the way I lead the eyes of the reader on the page, to make sure that the characters are facing the proper ways so as the story has good flow to it. Hopefully this all goes well, I've finished the story for both companies, I'm also going to put in their three pinups/covers also because from all the books I've read they say those are essential for a good portfolio as well. I'm so happy I have this new found focus now!! I'm pumped up and ready to take action, this is what it's all about!!

"Look Up." as quoted from "The Quest for Dairy"

Well ladies and gents it appears to me that things are going to start looking up for yours truly and my lovely fiance. Recently I have been getting a lot of opportunities for my line of work, i.e., writing and illustrating. I had a meeting last night with the Utica Players about the play I have written and also about possible art related jobs too. It went quite well I have to say, all the committee members seemed quite responsive and enthused about the play and also about working with me. I should hear from them no later than mid January about everything. Unfortunately they are a volunterry organization so no moola is to be given for compensation but hey I need the exposure anyway, any publicity is good for me right now! Also I have been emailed back by Mr. Mike Bova of M3P Media and other such related news companies to have a meeting with him. A while back I had emailed him my resume, sample illustrations and a sample article and now he has emailed me saying that he would like to meet with me; it must be some sort of good news right?!

Also very recently, like five minutes ago from when I'm typing this I have submitted a sample article and bio and other such info to The Examiner another local newspaper organization to get a job writing articles on comic books, which would def rock to the core, am I right?! So hopefully all goes well and I start making some cash and getting known as what I am, a freelance Illustrator and Writer!! YEAH GO FOR THE GOLD!! Pumped up I have to say, also I am looking for a job for my little fiance in photography, she is a a great photographer and has a keen eye for composition and interesting shots. Her taste in material is impecable, she is currently getting together a new portfolio to show her latest findings. So if anyone needs a photographer let me know via email.

Wish us continued luck!

Mike D. Burke

Working Hard

What ap bitches?! Just kidding...but seriously yeah, what up?

Lately I have been working and busting out art like a friggin fiend on crack hooked up to an IV pumping Monster!!!! GraaaaaaAAAhhAHHHHH!! For real! As soon as I think the world is ready to see what I'm working on I will post the shit out of it!

I've been continuing to work on my graphic novel series pencils, I started a watercolor painting; started my first digital painting, finished completely the cover to my next book and one of six inside illustrations for it , did two t-shirt designs which you guys saw on my deviantart, oh and also started the first of my illustrations in a series!

The only thing I haven't done in a while is write, which I will have to fit in somewhere....

Mike D. Burke
www.ananami919.deviantart.com

Fragments of Fate

On Wednesday August 25, 2010 at 9:00AM my fiance and I arrived on the set of what would be our first debut as actors on the big screen, hopefully. It was amazing, we arrived there dressed nicely with only the hope of maybe being an extra and getting to help with the equipment. Somehow we ended up getting to do more. Rich Talarico the amazing director/actor/writer allowed us to have a scene with one of the talented actors in his film. To us it lasted for at least a half hour, in the film it will probably only be around three minutes tops depending on how they cut it together. We got to improv a whole scene for his new short film which was untitled as of the shooting. It was great! We were so pumped! During the takes and improvisation I actually made the other actor we were working with burst into laughter. All the other actors on set said that we were really hilarious and they just kept talking about the scene after! The one guy there, Jim Stevens who plays the manager of a bank wanted us to move out to L.A. and start going on auditions. He said to quote, "You have a very unique look about you and that scene was just hilarious." about me and us. Our plan is to eventually move out to L.A. and go on auditions and such, not to mention out in L.A. we will have a lot more access to our outlets for our talents. So that will be awesome, most def.
In any case I am currently still working on all my projects; "Masters of Fiction" I have one page done of the rough pencils and working on the second page, "Commercials" done with Act One and onto Act Two, "A Little Valentinus in your Samhain" currently on chapter Six. So still plugging away at everything!! More news sometime.

Promotional!!

Greetings and salutations earth beings!! Oh wait, I'm an earthling too...Never mind. No. I'm not changing my first greeting, I don't care if it doesn't make sense. I like it. Sheesh. Inner monolouges.
In any case I wanted to let all of you know that I finally received my BUSINESS CARDS!!!! YaY! I can feel how excited you all are across cyber-space. Yes this is very exillerating and what not! I shall be handing out my business cards to local businesses, coffee shops, libraries, t-shirt stores, local restaurants, people I want in my network (everyone who can help me and who needs help) and random places that have business cards out hahahahhahahahaha!!!!
Also here is a list of projects I have going at the moment and what it is I'm doing with them:

1. "The Quest for Dairy"-Play: Currently under consideration by the Utica Players committee (I'm awaiting their approval to start working with them on casting, directing and what not)

2. "Masters of Fiction"-Graphic Novel: Currently in the rough pencils stage. I do have two finished mock covers for it as well which will be posted on my deviant art page.

3. "A little Valentinus in your Hollows Eve"-Novel: Currently I have been writing at least four pages a day it is no wheres near done yet (on p.50 out of a 240 p. book) but working on it.

4. "Commercials"-Screenplay: First rough draft version is being written right now. It is a 114 page script roughly and I am on p.20.

5. Commissions status: Open (email me or message me on here and we can discuss prices)

The Wheels are in Motion

Well ladies and germs I be on me way to becoming a playwright/director hopefully pretty soon!!! I finished up writing my comedy play, "The Quest for Dairy" and recently emailed a local theater organization and they emailed me back. As is customary in polite society, and they said they might have a venue for my play to perform! So I sent them a proposal letter and a copy of my play and well, hopefully things work out. The only thing I'm nervous about is the fact that I had no clue how to write a proposal letter for a play, so I kind of winged it. But still...it seemed like a good letter to me, and I believe my play speaks for itself.
Don't mock my title for the play either, it's hilarious. You will see! You will all see! (fake crazyness in those words) In any case though, I have to hope to God that I get picked up for a performance most definitely. It was my first play so heh, here's hoping!
Also production on my graphic novel is in motion now too, and as soon as I get my hands on some sort of scanner I will post up some pictures and such on here and other various sites I hold dominion over. Please look forward to all that is coming from me and continually give me support, whoever checks out this site and actually reads the blogs.....

Sketching

Lately I have been sketching a lot more which in part is thanks to one of my teachers. Sketching a lot has great benefits, for one if you really pay attention to your drawing ability and what not you can get better a lot faster than you think. And plus sketching is just fun I mean you could come up with some crazy idea while doing it or draw something that really just sucks ass. Either way it's just something really good to do. Just from doing more sketching lately I'm getting back to the way I use to be when I was younger.
I use to sketch like a ton when I was younger and do all sorts of random illustrations and such and this is really getting me back into that. Ever since I got to college like three years ago it has been harder for me to really get into the mood again to do just random sketches and illustrations and comic book stuff which is the whole reason I'm going to college to become an awesome comic book artist. Which finally I feel like I'm getting into that professional frame of mind. I'm doing more scripts then thumbnails, sketches, way better layout ideas and camera work, color comps. I mean I'm actually messing around with color now and I like it! I always hated messing around with color because I thought it was too complicated you know? But I finally got into just doing this style that uses just flat colors with two to three variations and I love it.
So overall my advice to anyone out there is to just friggin sketch more and more and more and do random illustrations and try out things you hate until you sort of understand them more you know?

Work!Practice!Write!Draw!

Currently I am so slammed with a ton of work to do right now and it is really having an effect on me. I have tons of school work to do which includes; continuing to get good grades and stuff for graduation, nine more pages for my Children's book I am working on for Childs Ill, I have to do three finished illustrations for this book, a cover and two other illustrations, doing photos and research and all sorts of things for Figure illustration, and doing good enough at Science to keep a good grade, oh and doing projects well for Editorial as well. By the way I don't think I've done many awesome pieces that would be considered portfolio level which is not cool. Then I have my own side projects I'm trying to do like; writing a script for my comic I want to do, "Master's of Fiction" (which then I have to thumbnail, layout, pencil, ink and eventually color on the computer and publish through Lulu), do random pencilled pages for my comic portfolio and I offered to do a story and whole comic for this Indy anthology thingie so yeah....a bit too much on my plate per se.
But I guess this will all make me a better artist in the end. It is teaching me to not sleep so much, man that just holds you back...In anycase I hope to post some stuff up here soon but until then I will continue blogging.