The Post Modern Muses have made their fabulous debut on YouTube! Watch the video above!
Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Britney Spears join forces to help inspire me to stop procrastinating and start drawing! The video is an animatic of a sequence that I storyboarded a while back (you can click through the panels here: Part 1 and Part 2).
I worked with the extraordinary Editor, Daniel Ortiz, to cut this animatic together. Editing the sequence together with voices, sound and music was such a blast! It also helped shine a light on B panels that we needed to add and how the overall pace was working. I'm so elated that I got to collaborate with Daniel on the edit, he really made the sequence come to life!
Here are some more birthday cards that I did recently starring my Post Modern Muses. Who the cards went to will remain anonymous...but the Post Modern Muses won't. They are Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Britney Spears. And boy do they love celebrating holidays and special occasions. (PS: Coming soon, I'll recount how I first met these Muses, in storyboards loosely based on a true story).
The first card goes to someone who strongly dislikes moving, and unfortunately might have to do it again soon. But at least she's not rooming with five high maintenance divas.
The next one goes to someone who we threw a surprise party for...the Muses almost ruined it.
And here are some cards that I did that celebrate other people's Post Modern Muses. I based them on real outfits/styles that these fabulous ladies wore.
Here is the one and only Dolly Parton (based on one of her big and bold 1970s looks). The recipient of this card admires Dolly for her high spirits and huge...talents.
Finally, I gave one of the funniest people that I know this card featuring another one of the funniest people that (I wish that) I knew, Goldie Hawn. I ask you, what is better than Goldie's goofy swagger all over the Laugh-In set in the 1960s? Nothing, that's what.
Thought I'd post some of my recent gesture and figure drawings. But before I do...a word about the Photoshop Bikini. A subject of great controversy (in my head). I realized that I had never posted nude figure drawings before, and at first I really didn't think anything of it. Then I was like, wait, can you post nudity on Blogger, even if it's drawings? I checked their policy, and they basically said: no... no you can't, unless you concede it's porn and let them put an age restriction on it. So, I'm pretty sure I'm just being crazily paranoid (per usual), but I threw on a charcoal brush bikini in Photoshop JUST to be crazy. Does anyone really even care if there are nude drawings on blogs? I hardly ever see anyone post them. If anyone really wants to see the original nude figure drawings, I guess just ask me and I'll email them to you...ok, now that makes them actually sound like porn.
ANYWAYZ, here are the non-nude gesture drawings. First of some sassy 1920s ladies...boy do I hate cigarettes, but god damn do I think cigarette holders are sexy.
Warrior ladies straight out of a Frank Frazetta book cover.
This Holiday season, I continued my obsession with this Post Modern Muse idea into holiday gifts for my friends and family...so hopefully other people like them, too. But, honestly, what's not to like? Pop divas and tinsel. I can't think of anything better.
In case you're new to this blog or need a refresher, the Post Modern Muses comprise of this millennium's most inspiring pop music goddesses: Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Britney Spears. Now let's take a look at how these ladies celebrate Christmas together:
So back in March, in my post about the immaculate Beyonce, I went on a full-on rant about why I wasn't going to include Rihanna as one of my Post Modern Muses anymore. In it I pointed out that Beyonce represented positivity and made all the right decisions...and Rihanna was all over the map. Back around the time of that post, RiRi had made a HUGE error in judgment by collaborating with Chris Brown (her ex who viciously beat her back in 2009) on not one but TWO songs. The issue was not whether the two were back together as a couple (though that would be incredibly sad), it was instead about her careless decision to work with her abuser on songs about "licking the icing off" like nothing bad ever happened...it was a terrible message to send, especially to her younger fans. Cut to a few months later, I now realize something. Rihanna represents history...the good and bad, the triumphs and mistakes. While Beyonce is almost impossibly polished, and even Lady Gaga has a meticulously art-directed insanity, Rihanna is a bit rougher around the edges. She's more of a work-in progress who is fascinating to watch evolve. As a fellow Pisces, I get her brand of crazy. She sings songs about being drunk on love, comparing past relationships with russian roulette...all because she longs for someone to make her feel like she's the only one in the world. Though she may make a few missteps along the way, she always seems to adapt and learn from them. And if she doesn't, then at least we can.
Thus Rihanna is the Post Modern Muse descendant of Clio, the Ancient Greek Muse of History. Plus, my god I can't deny how much her banging beats and all around relentless fierceness inspire me on a ridiculous level. And in the end that's what these Post Modern Muses are all about. I mean, have you seen her red-tinged masterpiece music video for "Only Girl (in the World)"?! She looks like the Princess of freaking Mars with red hair that would give Ariel a run for her clam shells. Respect!
As if it were any surprise, my ultimate Post Modern Muse is my long lost fraternal twin sister Lady Gaga. The amount of creativity and boldness that bursts out of her on a daily basis is staggering. Madonna (dare I mention her name in this post) changes her image every couple of years, but Gaga does it every couple of hours. And it's more often than not with sharp wit, a hidden message and a ton of make-up. Her music videos are always an event, mini-movies that explode with high concept. Her live performances are a sight to behold, with enormous elaborate sets and relentless choreography. But when she sits at a piano (which is sometimes on fire, but still), all she needs is her full voice and musical genius to back her crazy sh*# up.
So with all that said (and seeing as how I've listened to each of her songs an almost unhealthy amount of times), it's clear that Lady Gaga is the Post Modern Muse answer to Euterpe, the Ancient Greek Muse of Music. I must admit choosing her outfit was daunting, but I had to go with my absolute favorite performance of hers...or anyone's who has ever performed ever. It's her remixed version of "Paparazzi" on SNL in 2009. Unfortunately, the video of it has been pulled from the interwebs for copyright reasons...but hopefully NBC releases it again somehow, because it is awe-inspiring! Here's an image of her costume at least:
Ever since I was a wee child, I've drawn cards for my family members on their birthdays. This year, I'm kind of on this Post Modern Muse kick (have you noticed?), so I of course have been including them in the cards. Since I've only debuted three so far, the cards star Beyonce, Nicki Minaj and Britney Spears for now...which is kind of a fun trio unto itself.
The idea is that the Po Mo Muses can inspire all kinds of jobs. So for my uber smart brother Jimmy, that means that they inspire Neuroscience. What? Just because these ladies might not know their Medullas from their Oblongatas, doesn't mean that they can't inspire some gentlemen scientists.
My mom teaches E.S.L. (English as a Second Language) in an elementary school. I think I've heard Beyonce speak a bit of Spanish before (she is from Texas after all...which is pretty much Mexico anyway, am I right?). As for Nicki and Britney, if there was only one word that they should know en español, it's this one...
And now for something that the Po Mo Muses are pros at...Marketing. My sister Christie does Marketing for a company called Bradshaw International, Inc. Her focus is on promoting their kitchenware...which can be found primarily at your local Target store's kitchen aisle under the Good Cook label (I expect a commission for that, Christie). The Po Mu Muses probably have personal chefs, so they show that these spoons and spatulas have other uses...like helping you look sexy whilst singing.
When it came time for me to cast the Post Modern Muse version of Erato, the Ancient Greek Muse of love poetry, there was really only one option. The sublime Beyonce. A lot of pop divas sing about love, but when Bey sings about love she reeeeeally means it. The type of thing where when she hits a heartfelt high note, you hold your hand up to the sky and yell "preach!" Her songbook is full of all kinds of expressions of love: sweet ballads about meeting your soul mate (Jay-Z, an unexpected prince charming), fast-paced dance tracks about gettin yo man with that Freakum Dress, slow baby-making songs...and a healthy dose of women-scorned anthems that tell no-good men to pick up their box on the left and hit the road. Listening to Beyonce reminds me that love exists, it feels amazing when it's real, but if you do me wrong then the cab is waiting for you outside.
On top of all of that, Beyonce is seriously one of THE most incredible live performers that I've ever seen. Like better-than-the-recording type of incredible. It is unreal. Here she is performing "End of Time" live in 3 different locations at once...that's right, she also teleports. Fierce.
A Note About the Fallen Post Modern Muse: Let me get on my soapbox for a moment. One of the main reasons that I love Beyonce so much is that she represents positivity. When she sings about love, it's promoting healthy relationships full of respect, trust, honesty. And then there's Rihanna. I was super excited to include Rihanna as a Post Modern Muse...according to my iTunes I apparently listen to her music more than anyone except Lady Gaga. I was going to draw her with red hair, maybe even give her an umbrella. BUT THEN she might be dating Chris Brown again? The man who brutally beat her just 3 years ago?! Even though the idea of dating him again and knowingly putting your life in danger is absolutely self-destructive/idiotic (if it's true)...that's her business. What put me over the edge was when she and Brown collaborated on not one but TWO songs. Do what you want with your love life, make your poor decisions...but don't go flaunting it to impressionable young girls who will now hear these songs (especially the raunchy "Birthday Cake") and think that it's ok to go back with a man who beat you. Or not even go back in the dating sense, just to work with or associate with him at all. Such an awful message. So disappointing. Hopefully she'll grow out of this. And that's why she is no longer one of my Post Modern Muses. The role of Euterpe, Muse of music, is now being recast. Alright, tirade over.
Our next Post Modern Muse is Britney's Femme Fatale tourmate Nicki Minaj. A badassed rapper who blew onto the scene by doing featured verses on other rappers' songs...and pretty much upstaged every single one of them (and at times, being the only thing that made their songs tolerable...hello Jay Sean's "2012 [It Ain't the End]"). But the killer guest verses were just the beginning, and now Ms. Minaj treats us to such infectious solo jams as "Super Bass," which has reached the pop culture phenomenon status that I live for (when Taylor Swift and a duo of British toddlers are rapping your song on Youtube, you have arrived).
Nicki is the Post Modern Muse equivalent of Urania, the
Ancient Greek Muse of Astronomy...because...well, because it was the
only theme left. But also because her ass is out of this world. There. I
said it.
Speaking of which, a good friend pointed out that "Super Bass" is actually wordplay for superb ass...am I the only one that did not piece this together right away? Anyway, watch the masterpiece music video for it here:
Ladies and gentleman, without further ado, I'm happy to begin introducing my Post Modern Muses. They are a group of 21st century women who inspire me with their movies, music, books, art, and general fierceness. Reflecting the Ancient Greek Muses, there are nine Post Modern Muses in total...and they're sent from the heavens to kick my ass into drawing more.
Who better to start with than a girl who began as a bubble gum pop princess that they said wouldn't last...only to prove that, with an endless cannon of catchy songs and the occasional public meltdown, you can keep people interested. I'm talking about Britney Spears, y'all! I envision her as the Post Modern Muse equivalent of Terpsichore, the Ancient Greek Muse of dance. Cause let's be real, in her prime, Brit could work that VMA stage with theeeee sickest dance moves since no one.
My Po Mo Muse Britney is always seen with her infamous pet snake, who I've decided is named Billy Bob. Watch them together below at the 2001 MTV VMAs, in what many consider the best choreographed piece of dance in the history of anything:
Eventually I'm going to debut my very own Post Modern Muses on this here blog. For a little context, a Post Modern Muse (or Po Mo Muse...or Po Mo Mu) is a public figure that inspires the hell out of you. This Christmas, I drew a Po Mo Muse for each of my family members. After some subtle investigating, I learned which people inspire them to keep going, create things, that kind of stuff.
My mom is very much inspired by the compassion and kind-spirit of Mother Teresa. She's always smiling! Seriously, have you seen a photo of Mother Teresa not smiling? It's weird. I drew her smiling.
My sister Christie's Post Modern Muse is arguably the best actress...ever? With 16 Oscar nominations, she is by far the most nominated Actor in history. And she's probably going to be nominated AGAIN for The Iron Lady this year. Love her!
My brother Jimmy finds the one and only Steve Jobs to be super inspiring. I mean he pretty much revolutionized computers, communication and animation with his vision. Fun fact that I share whenever I get the chance: I have the same birthday as Steve Jobs (February 24). Hollaz!!
Although my Dad did not recognize her, even after several hints and guesses...I'm sticking with Stevie Nicks as his Po Mo Mu. I mean, one of his favorite bands is Fleetwood Mac, he is a baby-boomer, and I really wanted to draw Stevie Nicks.
My uncle Tommy's Po Mo Muse was a little harder to crack. He loves model trains...so I went to Google for inspiration. After googling "inventor of trains," I discovered that George Stephenson was the very first person to open a railway line to use steam locomotives. Way to go George Stephenson!
