Meesh's Blog

The latest solar image...Albireo

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:12:00 +0000

I've been experimenting with simplicity. Now, I'm not a simple designer. I LIKE bold. I like graphic. I like strong colors. I like a lot of stuff going on. I think because I'm pretty self-contained, I express everything in my design work. However, I understand that sometimes "less is more", so I'm challenging myself by taking something big-like...SPACE, and trying to do simple, simple prints of it. Interestingly, the fact that space is in itself massive to us in theory; visually, from our POV, it looks very small. The moon looks like a quarter, Mercury is but a small dot on the horizon, stars are interchangeable to our eyes. It's kind of our own self-importance that we equate our relative being in relation to that infinite space by focusing on what we can see ourselves and its relation to us in the here and now. I think with that, I can understand why so many civilizations viewed the Earth as the center, and the universe as something that revolved around the Earth. It's a component of the human mind and the human spirit that we desire to be a part of something larger-yet at the same time, we are so visual that at times we overlook the incredible massive EVERYTHING that extends beyond our realm of sight. It's the whole, if you don't see it, it doesn't exist.

Which brings me to this. This is Albireo, the Dual Star. I know-"Dual Star?", you're probably thinking...that's gramatically incorrect! WELL. Here's an example of perception of space in relation to the human eye. From Earth-visible by the naked eye, Albireo looks like a single star. It's only upon busting out a handy dandy telescope that Albireo is actually two stars-a small blue one and a large gold one. Imagine the amazing things that we can't see that must exist out in the universe-beyond our universe-beyond our mind's eye. I like to think of that sometimes. Okay, long-winded post over. :)

Who says art people don't like astronomy?

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:30:00 +0000

We don't like math. Strike that-I don't, but I like staring at the stars. :) A couple poster "minimalist vector style" images, centering around an astronomy subject. The two here are the Moon and Mercury as seen from Earth, and the star cluster M13. But done in the super flat illustrator style of moi. (Kind of like-it's their sheer vastness condensed into uber 2D flatness?)

Anyways-kind of an interesting experiment with working with minimal shapes and subjects-while still hoping to express the vastness of space. :P

Look Book page up!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:51:00 +0000

As it goes - the Look Book page is finally up! Only a...*ahem* couple more pages to go, right?! :) There are three looks right now, I've definitely got four, and hopefully more to come.

Anyways-that's it! Check it out at: www.vectordemented.com/lookbook.html

Vector Icons!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 04:20:00 +0000

Sooo-I was looking at my desktop, and I realized I use a lot of custom icons. So I began thinking..."I want to make my own! It can't be that hard, can it?"

Well-making the actual ICON isn't hard. Making it an actually working icon took a little bit of research, some digging for my OS X.4 install disk for developer tools that most private individuals probably never realized are on that disk, and some searching for icon file extension programs. All that, and I was only able to make Mac only icons. Unfortunately, until I can get my grubby little hands on CS4...or I'm willing to buy a program to convert pngs to icos, Windows users will have to wait. Sorry!

SO-here are the four sets! All part of my vector demented insanity project. Because I don't have OS X.5 or higher, I can't really use Candybar to customize my application icons, so all of these icons are hard drive and folders. But-when I can, and I WILL upgrade at some point...I'm going to customize everything! (Most people do this with cars, I do it with computers.)

You can download the icons for free from Vector Demented.

They are only for private and personal use, so if you want to use something of mine to brighten up your Mac desktop, here you go!
Instructions on how to use them are on the icons page.

Still trying to get it all done! It's coming along. :)

Testing...testing...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:08:00 +0000

After hours...and hours...testing the site-I think I've finally gotten the front page of Vector Demented to look the way I want. Of course-there aren't any OTHER pages yet, but I'm working on it.

I decided the main thing was to link the different SWFs in different HTML handlers. This allows me to build in more animation in each area, without worrying *too much* about the file size of the subsequent SWFs. this should hopefully allow for the site to load quickly from one to another.

I am still not sure if I'm going to do a separate blog for Vector Demented, or just keep everything linked into this one. I haven't decided yet. Hmm.

So, the site is now linked through my website, and even though it's painfully incomplete, the site is up-so I can continue testing and modifying things as it goes.

www.vectordemented.com

The beginning trials of building a Flash site

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 06:00:00 +0000

ARRRRGH.

That's pretty much how I felt all day trying to get back into making a Flash only site.
It's been a little bit of time, and going back into Flash is NOT like riding a bicycle. I would forget how to do things, I'd start thumbing through manuals-things wouldn't work right...it can be such a frustrating program.

But-luckily, I've managed to get through about 30% of my front page. There's still a lot to go, and I need to fix a couple of things I noticed going weird with my programming. Still-I'm relatively happy that things are starting to come together.

So right now, I managed to put together an HTML/CSS basic entryway, and I've managed to put together the front interface of the site with a little animation. Since the front end is still relatively unheavy, the site loads really fast. If you have DSL or CABLE.

Anyways-you can see the beginnings here:

http://www.vectordemented.com/test1.html

Vector Demented!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 06:33:00 +0000

Sooooo-I've decided to start a new site. It is called: www.vectordemented.com
The reason? I've discovered I have a ton of vector art that won't fit on my main site. I also want it to be a site with my animated videos, my crazy icons, downloadable (and hence, shareable) icons and wallpapers that I make and maybe a store?! Dare I dream? Mmmm...maybe! But i've decided to keep track of my creation of the site (per a friend who thought it'd be cool to do that), so I'm going to take his advice and start keeping track of what I do. It's going to be the building of a site from a designer's perspective!

Hence, I think I'll also put up my missteps, my research, everything as I attempt to build this site.

It might be fun this way! Or just a way for me to keep track of my own craziness.

Punk Guy Vector

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:51:00 +0000

I'm on a vector creating warpath because I'm doing something new...!!!

It's going to be fun!

Done in Illustrator.

More cute vector animals...Demented ones.

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:29:00 +0000

Soooo-more of my little vector animals. All of these are my creation-but yet, I must still slap the annoying watermark image all over it. Because-vectors are easily abused. SO, from the top:
First Row: Zombie Monkey, Zombie Killer Monkey, Mime Monkey, Fairy Monkey.
Second Row: Twin Cats, Brainy Cat, Electric Mouse
Third Row: Vampire Kitty Clock, Zombie Monkey In Crosshairs
Fourth Row: Vampire Kitty Clock variation, Twin Cats variation
Fifth Row: Super Brainy Kitty.

Vectors are fun!

Animals of...things I like

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Sorry about the vicious watermark-but since I'm referencing characters of movies and music, I don't want these floating around online when it was done as a personal project.
The top three:
Ziggy Stardust Cat, The Artist Formerly Known As Dog, Meat Is Murder Monkey.
The next three (these are my own invention):
Dark Angel Bunny, Raver Pink Puppy, Wild West Bear
The following four:
Kill Bill Samurai Cat, Evil Driver Nurse Bunny, Gogo Bunny, and Yakuza Old Lady Bear.
At the bottom:
Scissorhands Monkey and Droog Fox.

Any likenesses are trademark of their respective owners. But this was my funtime vector stuff. :)

Desktop creation

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 01:29:00 +0000

*As an edit to this post*, I forgot to put up the 1600x1200 image of better quality for larger desktops! I didn't think anyone else would put it up! But here you go!!! It'll make the real Tina happy!

Ahhh-

Every so often I do something for those I care about. It isn't very often-but I do once in a while.

Here it is, step by step:

Black and White:

Knock out background-and add one in:

Spice it up:

Color it and voila!

There you have it. Download and use as a desktop. :)

Mad Sugar Pg. 7 (or 8?)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:14:00 +0000

And the next page-with more crashing and crunching. I'm sort of enjoying coloring this. Coloring has never really been my favorite thing-but I do feel more accomplished after I've colored something vs. just drawing something. Hmm. I feel thwarted by my own physical body when I color. My mind says "faster faster! Get this done!" My hands say "hell no!" :) The constant battle of the mind vs. the physical body. I feel that there is another me that harbors resentment against the pushy me-and they just duke it out all the time.

ANYWAYS. Back to the computer.

Kids With Robots-Seven

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:09:00 +0000

The Kids With Robots series continues with Robot Seven: P.A.N-Projectile Arm-style Nymph.
I'm still working on this-there will be 10 total-the last five are all the defects with their insect-style robots.

Kind of fun to go back to this style of coloring. :)

The weekend goes by so fast...it's so unfair. I think I'm still on vacation-mode.

A little more Mad Sugar

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 17:43:00 +0000

And here are the most current two pages of Mad Sugar.

I realized after vacationing for 10 days in snowy upstate New York that I love LA. I really love the weather, I love the city, I missed it so much. Then, one day after being back, the license plates on my car were stolen and replaced with stolen plates. Yeah-there are things I don't miss about LA either. :) In upstate NY, people leave their keys in their cars in their driveways. I could never do that out here. I obviously can't even leave my car on a parked residential street. But anyways, I guess no matter where you live, you take the good with the bad.

Anyways, Happy New Year-and hopefully things will go a little more smoothly going forward. With my luck, I may just walk outside today and have a whole new set of plates again on my car. :P

Mad Sugar Page 4

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:14:00 +0000

And the newest page of my webcomic "Mad Sugar" is up. I've worked it out with Girlamatic where once the revamped site goes up, this comic will be updated exclusively there. Until then, it'll be on Webcomicsnation and my site here, (where I may run a bit behind). Here's the latest page, click here to read from the beginning: http://www.webcomicsnation.com/meesh23/madsugar/series.php?view=archive&chapter=35047

Web Designer

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 07:01:00 +0000

Happy Post Thanksgiving!

I'm very much enjoying my extra time off...it allows me to get some extra stuff done. My website is in the current issue (151) of Web Designer UK-and since I haven't gotten a copy yet...(it's so slow to come out here in the states!) a very nice young man from Ireland scanned my page in and sent it to me. Thanks Paul! I am regretting everything that I said in the blurb, because I sound like a dork. I like being an artist. I don't like talking about it. I cringe whenever I see things I say put down. I'm always going, "what was I thinking?!!

I'm also working on another comic (I need to start another one like I need a root canal-but I had an idea, and I am running with it)-it's called MAD SUGAR-and it's just going to be a candy colored, pop-punk, sci-fi, thingie. I've put a few pages up on my site to start-and that way I can build it at my own pace-and maybe when I get enough I'll put it on a site. (Maybe Girlamatic will be so kind as to let me stick it into VM's place...but our editor may just be sick of me at this point!) You can check out the pages here: http://www.michellemauk.com/comicart/madsugarhome.html

I do some work!

Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:53:00 +0000

WOW-it's been five months since I've posted...that's so bad!!! ANYWAYS-now that I have found a little bit of inspiration to go back and work on my website, I've started trying something new. So my site is up-it's still in progress, because, well, nothing is done yet-no links, no artwork, nada. BUT-the front page, and the digital page fronts are up-and they pretty much denote how the whole thing is going to look anyways. SO-go check it out: www.michellemauk.com There's also a flash image with my newest idea...

Like I said-it's in progress. In other news-I'm off to Japan Friday for a few days for business. Off to Tokyo I go. I'm a little nervous.

Plus, it's during my birthday.

ANYWAYS-that's the latest!

Stuff I've been working on!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:46:00 +0000

Ahhh,

I've been so busy. But here's what I've been working on for my work. Graphic Design for Comic Books. Yay! I do the logos, jacket design, interior cover design, layout, and so on. It's been a whirlwind of craziness, but I've really been enjoying it. Anyways, here are four out of the ten I've done so far for DMP-these just happen to be some of my favorites. In stores in May-August!

VM filler for awhile...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 06:18:00 +0000

Ah, so I have this piece (another filler), as I gather myself together. It's been a far busier couple months than I thought it would be-and I'm trying to work my way towards a laptop and some software-so I can continue to make art. Yay! But-sadly, VM will have to go on hold for awhile-it's been schizophrenic the last couple of months and I'm sure people are tired of that.

I want to perfect and get a couple of my skills together-especially when it comes to drawing, design and coloring, and *danger*! I have a new idea looming in my head that I want to write all out.

So-that's how it is right now.

Outspoken and Filler Update!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 08:21:00 +0000

Well,because of a commission-I couldn't finish my page-but luckily we have a "ahem' holiday of sorts-and I made a pinup. But if you want more VM-you can read my Outspoken interview on Girlamatic today HERE

Anyways-I've gotta get going on to bed so I'm not exhausted tomorrow.

VM Page 52-Third Section

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:04:00 +0000

Gosh-how many sections will there be? Anyways-I'm a day late because I can't seem to keep my days straight anymore. *Sigh. I think that's a sign of getting older right there.

Anyways-to bed!

VM next section-splash page!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:25:00 +0000

And the next section is about to begin...

I put up last week's page because I forgot to post that it went up. So forgetful. Anyways, off to bed I go!

VM page 49

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Happy New Year!!!! I'm so lame-I should've done this post last night, but now I'm at work with no access to my artwork-but....VM has updated? Finally? Yeeeeesssss, it has! I obviously haven't posted in my blog for awhile, but I've been working so much, and then I was in New York, and then I'm transitioning between two jobs, and then I got to see friends I haven't seen in yeeeearrrrsss, and...and....well, let's just say I try hard to hole myself up in my home and avoid the outside world, but it hasn't been easy! So go ahead and take a gander over here: http://girlamatic.com/comics/voyage.php

I saw Sweeney Todd, loved it! What beautiful art direction! It's still typically Burton, but I thought it was just so entertaining, and moved along much more than a lot of his other films. I loved hearing Johnny Depp sing-I mean, how brave is that? That takes some nerve to go-yeah, I'll be the demon barber, and I'll sing a musical, and not an exceptionally easy musical either.

I do have some resolutions for the new year-for sure I want to redo my website and get that done, I want to keep on top of VM-provided I'm not traveling or out of town, and I want to make sure I take advantage of my health insurance-and go and take care of my eyes, my teeth, and my body (not necessarily in that order). I can't take for granted that I've been fortunate enough to be relatively healthy in my life, and I think the way my mom raised my sister and I was smart and focused-which was to eat well (fish, rice and veggies), keep your weight at a healthy level, and reduce reliance on any medication. I still have an adverseness to medication-I don't like to take anything if I can help it.

Anyways, as it is, I can't believe how quickly time goes by-and I'm looking forward to what this new year brings. Hopefully it'll be unusual. :)

VM Requests update!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 06:39:00 +0000

So I did some requests for those that requested...and thus here are the results! It's kind of fun to do something a little different from time to time...helps keep the creative juices flowing.

Good times.

VM page 48

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle Mauk) — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:37:00 +0000

VM Page for view
Sleepy time has come again
Must brush my teeth now