Free online art lessons

"These pages are a resource for artists and art students that focus on the technical fundamentals of perspective, shading, color and painting. They were compiled and designed by Ralph Larmann, art faculty member in the University of Evansville Art Department."

They also have figure drawing resources.

Locking down music is futile

If you produce, sell, or distribute media, you should read this, because it will help you figure out how to make money and which technologies and networks to get behind.

This article, a speech by Andrew Orlowski of The Register, is the most interesting and insightful view of the future of the music business I've read.

We need to transcend today's argument (music biz vs music lovers) and ask the fundimental questions: How can people use audio the way they like to while rewarding those who make and own the content (so they will make more)?

Visual media will naturally flow in similar channels, so read up, if that's what you do.

HST RIP

One of my heroes died yesterday. Hunter S Thompson. His bio. It's shocking that such an apparently fearless individual would end his own life, but it's so like him to take matters into his own hands.

We loved him because he wasn't afraid to say what he thought and because he taught us that the weird could turn pro. Thanks, Doc.

"Going to trial with a lawyer who considers your whole life-style a Crime in Progress is not a happy prospect."

"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upward mobile."

"We cannot expect people to have respect for law and order until we teach respect to those we have entrusted to enforce those laws."

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

Muralist faces jail time for painting breasts and the word "love"

In the USA (of course) an artist faces 30 days in jail, a fine, and probation for painting after a Michelangelo work. I had a *bible* with a color plate of bare-breasted Eve once. I thought fig leaves were the time-tested punishment for this infraction, in any case.

The word "love" was a problem because words violate the local sign code in some way. (Some cities have made words into the defining characteristic between art and advertising, in order to regulate ads. Unfortunately the effect seems to be to prohibit various art expressions instead.)

Although this artist is not a graffiti artist, clearly his problem is one most graffiti artists share, typically being men of words, if not the occasional exuberant portrayal of cleavage.

It's always easier to pick on the little guy painting his own wall, too. It's hard to imagine Clear Channel facing a criminal prosecution for an erotic billboard image. Maybe Michelangelo had it right when he made sure the richest people in town paid for his nude paintings.

Thanks to Boing Boing for the tip.

Letter animation: ASCII movies

These are extremely cool. They take a minute or two to load but are well worth the wait. Thanks to ntk.net for the tip.

Outsourcing Torture

There is a great article in the latest issue of the New Yorker called "Outsourcing Torture" by Jane Mayer. It's about the battle over ?extraordinary rendition.? This is when masked CIA operative kidnap suspected terrorists and take them to other countries that have no policy against prisoner torture or abuse. You thought Abu Gharib was bad, it was only one piece of the US policy puzzle.

How did America fall for this administrations "moral" platform in the last presidency?

Graf is fully commercial

Thanks to Mare for passing along this link.

Scion Art Cars by Mr Cartoon, Haze, and Futura

Best fractals ever

I know you like fractals, even if you don't know what they are yet. These are some of the best I've seen anywhere. Check them out.

Alfa RIP

An 18-year-old writer from Toronto Canada was killed yesterday while painting freights with some friends. He was hit by a train on a parallel track. The best information we have so far says that it was Alfa who lost his life. Our deepest sympathies go out to his friends, crew, and family.

The accident happened near Dupont and Christie streets, considered a very dangerous place to paint.