The Little Things

I've really been trying to follow my new chart I made for all my current projects. However still my procrastination side gets to me, it's a struggle but I can usually fight through it. Right now I've been working mostly on my next poetry book, 'Fragments', my children's book, 'Psycho Cat' and this small series of watercolor paintings to be paired with some poem of mine. I'm excited to see how these work out. I'm  not sure exactly where but I'd like to get my watercolor series displayed somewhere. All in all though it feels good to be working on a lot of different projects again.

 

thumbnail storyboard for 'Psycho Cat'

 

 

one of my new watercolor paintings entitled, "Borderline" to be paired with one of my newest poems.



It's My Nature

I think as artists it's really important to keep experimenting. Experiment with what works for you, what doesn't. Experiment with techniques, writing, painting, your life, whatever. Just keep trying new, weird, scary, exciting things. Find what makes the game fun for you. Try as many things as you can at least once. Keep growing.
That being said I am currently trying some new art software since my adobe software is a no go right now. Trying out, Art Rage, Painter 12 and The Gimpy. We shall see what happens.
Also working on a new watercolor series to be paired with some of my poetry. The focus of the series is "pain".
Finally as well getting back to my graphic novel, 'Nine Gates' as well. Writing and penciling and random illustrations.

So trying to get a nice swing going.

Instagram: ek1m_ekru8
Pinterest: artvandelay19
Facebook Page: Mike D. Burke

Some New Art-ing

 "Clarity"

Pencil/Watercolor

Mike D. burke

"Eros"

Pencil/Ink/Watercolor

Mike D.Burke

The Right Path

Getting on the right path is so important. You never know quite what it is exactly going forward toward your goals but that's why it's so important to experiment with different things. Take risks and fail, fail a lot. You learn more from the times things went bad then you do from when things are at their best. Don't be afraid, things should be afraid of you. I'm not saying don't be scared, be scared and listen to the fear but realize what it's saying to you, it's telling you you're doing the right thing. You need to keep motivated and moving. Talk about your dreams, don't hide them inside because you fear making them "real" by speaking them in the open air. Surround yourself with people who are motivated as well and will motivate you. Everyone feeds off of energy constantly and depending on if it's positive or negative that's what the results will be. So drop the friends who complain and ignore the doubters and people who think their fucking opinions are so damn valuable because they think they've been there, they haven't, because your life is not someone else's life. Your experiences, emotions, dreams, perceptions are not someone else's who is similar to you. Be a little selfish here and there. I'm not saying to completely ignore your friends who are negative, try and help them, motivate them, but you can only do so much for them before it falls into their hands. So if they just want to be a complaint factory, fuck 'hem. You need to maintain that hustle and communication and creativity. You can literally accomplish anything you put your mind to. You want to fly? You can fucking fly. Figure it out. You got this!

Like my Facebook Page!

Friends, freaks, kids and weirdos of the internet! Go Like my Facebook Page!!

https://www.facebook.com/ananamifdmb/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Working on my Good Looks

This is just a work in progress of a caricature I'm working on for now. What ya think?! My wife says that this is way to close to the truth. I love it. Inks and colors to follow. Right now I've been listening to Tegan and Sara and classical music like Mozart and shot and it is blowing my mind. I started listening to more classical music again to jump my creativity up, hopefully, after watching the indie film starring Josh Radnor of 'HIMYM' and Elizabeth Olsen of 'The Avengers: Age of Ultron' fame, 'Liberal Arts'. I love this film, it's great, I really identify with some aspects of the main characters life. It's great. I've already watched it three times and I only discovered it last week. Also last night at game night at our buddy Tom's he introduced me to this awesome guy named Casey Neistat who seems really awesome. Def going to be checking more into his stuff.

The Nashville Post

The wife and I decided we needed to get away for a bit. Between college and her job she was getting a bit stressed out, not too bad but she needed a breather. I myself have been feeling for quite a while now, dragged down and more and more depressed to the fact that I'm still, after four years, working at my day job and seemingly not getting anywhere with my career as a writer/artist/actor and it was really bothering me. So luckily at this time, her sister had said to us that she had to go down to a conference in Nashville, TN, and she said to us to come with her. We pretty much jumped at the opportunity. We hopped in her car and drove off from New York to Kentucky (to visit her dad for a bit) then to Nashville to stay in a lovely hotel.
We got here yesterday and drove to downtown to check out some sights her sister wanted to show us. My wife the photographer, Rachel Burke (check out her stuff sometime, I'll provide a link as soon as her website is up), got some fantastic pictures so far at the Bicentennial Park. The park itself has an amazing layout and lots to check out, all providing wonderful insights into the history of Tennessee. While in downtown Nashville we also went to the Walking Bridge and saw the skyline of the city. Gorgeous. Again, my talented wife got some great pictures. Downtown is great for beautiful sights, fun pubs and many shows to see, all either during daytime or the night. After which we all ate at Fido's for lunch. I had the sweet potato soup and a lovely porter ale called Tiny Bomb (explosive flavor) which was brewed about an hour or two away in Memphis. That night we went back to the hotel (Baymont Inn) which was lovely. Her sister had to go to her conference and so we decided to walk around and see what was around us. Right near us within walking distance was a lot of local eateries and also a grocery store. For dinner we went to Which Wich, a favorite of mine anytime we are down south.
The next day her sister had her conference early so we decided to go out adventuring. We visited the Centennial park this time, we figured why not since we been to the Bicentennial ha ha. The Centennial I have to say is my favorite. With the Parthenon right there, man I tell ya, I love it. Of course we got some great photos of the whole place. Inside were some great replicas of some Greek favorite like Athena, and a bunch of busts of dismantled bodies. If you ever get the chance get down there to see it, you won't be disappointed. We couldn't really find anywhere for lunch that we liked so we forwent it and when we left to go back to the hotel it was dinner time. That night we decided to Chili's which wasn't too bad. After which we stopped at the local liquor store and bought a lovely bottle of wine and whined down in our room. My wife was furiously editing her photos and I sketched a nice big caricature of myself (I'll post soon) and thought up some more illustrations to do.
While on this trip I also started to really razor in on creating a lifestyle plan for our lives. Career wise (of which is going great for the wife, she got promoted to Editor recently! Way to go baby!), setting wise, and all the other important aspects. I'm still working it all out but I'm trying to head toward certain goals. We shall see.
All in all it was a great trip! About 14 hours drive with a few stops, but not bad!

The Works

So for those of you who are familiar with my blog, you will notice I've changed a few things here and added some things as well. I changed the layout and the design as well as the name of my blog as well, to 'The Works'. So as to be more clear as I don't actually have a production company called Fool or anything like that. It just sounds simple and more streamlined to me and plus it goes more with my URL as well.
I've added some pages and changed some around as well. Check them out in your leisure, I will be adding things to them as regularly as possible. Thank you for your patience. I hope to have some cool stuff to share soon.
Some of the new things are the Book Excerpts page which will feature the first chapter of every novel I write as well as the first short story or poem in any anthology I create. Also the Works page which will consist of pictures of all of my books that are available for purchase. I changed from having multiple galleries to just one so as to make everything more manageable as I do multiple different medias and no longer see any need to separate them. I'll post as much new stuff as I can. There is also the video portion of my blog where I post my professional work as well as my own comedy sketches that has been updated. In any case, check it all out. Leave some love and let me know what you think.

Hotel Transylvania Concept Art

I know that these concept art sheets from HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA are already all over the internet but I just wanted to share them here in case anyone missed them. I love these all, they are such an inspiration!

 

 

 

 

Every Damn Day

There is an old maxim that goes behind the philosophy of any art form and that is important for any one trying to do anything in life really. That is the old adage; practice, practice, practice. Not that I am anywhere in life as it is right now but I know this one all too well. It is important to make sure that everyday you do something toward your art form (writing, illustration, photography, acting, etc.,) in order to actually further yourself.

You can all you want to, do one thing of your art and then try to promote the Hell out of it as you can, and then if you get somewhere with that awesome, but more often then not I have learned myself from doing such a thing that you end up just being disappointed. Instead of focusing on promoting one thing and putting all of your energy into that (which can work of course), I would say that while your putting the right amount of energy into it you also keep yourself moving and working on your next project and just plain old doing little exercises to keep your skills tight and ever evolving.

The mass amount of artists out there (in any form or shape) is amazing and great, especially now in this age of digital media and social media. It is a wonderful thing that there are so many different outlets out there for anyone to try out to get their story and their art out in the world. The world is diverse and huge and everyone has something to say.

This does however also make it harder for everyone to discern what artist is actually worth the time of any major company right now. Which ones are truly ready for their shot.

None the less it is great that so many people are waking up everyday now and focusing their energy on creating art.

The bottom line is that everyday you must do something to better your art and yourself! Something small to the start of something huge! Keep your goals in mind at all time!

The Game of Kings

Chess or Chaturanga as it was originally called, literally meaning Four Divisions is a game as old as civilized society invented somewhere between c. 280-1000 into the modern era. Many histories and treatises have been written about it for ages. It is indeed a powerful game and is of course known to be a favorite of strategists and intellectuals. The great thinker Benjamin Franklin had this to say of the game:

"The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it. By playing at Chess then, we may learn:
I. Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action.
II. Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: – the relation of the several Pieces, and their situations.
III. Caution, not to make our moves too hastily."

Thusly I've begun to play a chess game with myself each day/week to strengthen my mind and open up more doors of creativity. As a writer I am hoping this practice will increase my ability to think for multiple characters at once and to have strategy in defining a plot that is both satisfying and entertaining. As an actor, the same principles apply, by having to play two sides at once and with multiple pieces to move I am hoping this will help with defining character wants and needs or motivation for movement. Now, as an artist, I don't see much practical use into the strategy portion of the game as art is meant to feed on chaos, not order, but I do however see the beauty of the juxtaposition of the pieces as well as the layout of the board, they are all indeed aesthetically pleasing, so I think in some way unbeknownst to me this will help. Well, we'll see.
On the news of the project front, I finished scene one of act two of my play last night and I hope to write most of scene two of act two tonight possibly. The best thing about this play is that I have it all played out for myself in my mind so the effort of it is to just get it written so then I can read and rewrite as needed and then share my creation with those whose opinion I respect.
Also, tonight the wife and I got some great vegetables from my parents. A blog on that will be coming up.

Finding the time

Lately I've been finding a better way to use my time wisely. Since my mind is always so concentrated on so many different projects at a time it helps me now that I carry around this little grey notebook. I've been able to draw, write and read more efficiently. It's like finally my brain always has a place to put the ideas that flee across it in the passing hours. Because usually my mind is bouncing so much between all the thinks I want to do I often lose track of what it was I was thinking at from one moment to the next. 

I've been able to write down the scenes I'm thinking about for my novel every time I think of them. In able to sketch out quick ideas for my comic or for my random illustrations. It's great! Try it out. 

WIPs of "Hipster Skull Girlz 1"

Setting up a schedule for the old blog here

Had a thought recently to start organizing what it is I talk about on this blog so as to better take care of it and use it to its fullest. I'm constantly shifting focus between my many many passions and at times on a blog like this it can get confusing for audience members as well as the blogger himself. So as to better serve all of my passions I've decided to break up the days into what it is I will post about. What I came up with is this:

Sunday-Art
Monday-Art
Tuesday-Writing
Wednesday- Acting
Thursday-Art
Friday-Writing
Saturday-Acting

I believe that this schedule will not only bring a needed focus to the blog but also organize my time better as well. I've always been a person who needed structure in my life otherwise I seem to flounder about and do things to sporadically. Its important as an artist to be creatively spontaneous but that doesn't mean to only do things at the spur of the moment. You can harness that surprising creative burst energy into a managed slot of time where you focus your mind. At least that's what I think. We'll see. So tonight expect a blog geared toward writing.

New Short Stories

The short stories section of my blog is going to be expanding with more stories. All different kinds, horror, comedy and action, slice of life, good stuff. Feel free to check it out anytime you please, I'm going to try n have something in there for all audiences. Thus allows me to get better practice at all different types of narrative and situations. 

Also my essay section will be gaining some momentum soon as well so look for that. 

Any questions, or concerns feel free to go to my contact section. 

Spot Illustration

Here is a spot illustration for my upcoming graphic novel. In a later post I shall describe the process I took in creating this and most of my pieces along with pictures. 

Promotional Art

Promotional art of an all text poster for my graphic novel, Nine Gates. Created, written and illustrated by yours truly.

Happy May the 4th!!

Some Star Wars day smurfy smurfette fun for ya!! Pencils and inks n words all me! Boom baby!! 

THE EVER EXPANDING SCOPE

There is a way to present yourself to the public ever present in everyday life in this modern digital world. Its out there on our phones and our personal computers, tablets, wristwatches even our glasses now. Its called Social Media and its taken the job of the recruiter for a company to a whole new level. It gives them the upper hand to snoop and see who it is you interact with on a daily basis and what it is you say and think and feel now (emojis are king) and everything else that encompasses it. We can try and hide from the people we want to hire us and pay us the big bucks but the truth is their will find us and they have people and departments that are dedicated to these measure.

It is however not a negative thing to think about which is to say that nothing is private anymore. First of all if you're looking for privacy on the internet you are in the wrong place. Just be safe, don't be afraid to show all your sided, make the good outshow the bad and front load your portfolio always. Just some tips here and thoughts on the matter of the network of intertwined life online. Here are some sites to remember that you show your best and market the best you.

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. instagram
4. vine
5. blogger
6. Pinterest
7. Pandora
8. Yahoo
9. google

Happy Holiday Illustrations

Christmas is coming! Soon all shall be merry and cheery and white! So naturally the season to gifts that are straight from the heart is upon is all! I have decided to give certain members of my family who live in a far off land illustrations to commemorate my feelings and theirs as well toward certain things.

The main illustration is for my step-mom/whole family. You see, recently their dog had to be put down because of medical complications. We all took it hard of course but my step mother seemed to most of all. My father and I thought it would be a terrific idea to do a sort of portrait of our beloved, Buddy.

Here I share with you the pencils of the Buddy illustration I call, "Saint Buddy". Also some shots of the other ones as well. I plan on doing individual blogs on each so look forward to those! And shhhh don't tell my family this is on my blog! Happy Holidays! Cheers!