To my four readers: please make sure to update your bookmarks. In a shallow effort to encourage myself to blog more, ironcladfolly.wordpress.com has lost some weight, and is now simply ironcladfolly.com.
Whilst perusing the local comic retailer today, I came across a man in a Utili-Kilt.
No big deal, right? Whatever — not everyone gets the irony of those things. Similar to a tasteless t-shirt, some people just don’t get that these are the sort of thing that exist to be witnessed, chuckled at, and quickly forgotten. Maybe it makes its way into a cocktail party conversation, but it certainly should not be worn in public.
My problem here is that this particular patron was strutting around the store like the Queen of Fucking England, as if the fact that he had the guile to strap this thing around his gut made him some sort of foreign diplomat.
“Oh, you’d like access to this collection of graphic manuscripts? You’ll just have to wait your turn, sir, for me and my Utili-Kilt are currently perusing these periodicals!” he would say, snubbing his nose at me while considering which Battlestar Galactica action figure will look best next to his collection of sword canes.
Loosen up, pal. And get yourself some big kid apparel.
Some might say I’m the type to go “all out” for Halloween. I’ve never denied these claims.
The past few weeks have been spent costume-making and prop-building for my be-all-and-end-all Halloween party. Spoiler alert: here’s a taste of just a few of the things I’m working on.
This fellow weighs almost as much as I do. Try stealing that, Halloween tricksters!
Gibbet cage or zeppelin frame? You decide!
Liquid latex does wonders for complexion.
I didn't build this cheerful chap, but he certainly seems to enjoy the ride!
Often times, I find myself doodling in the blank ad spaces while editing page proofs at the Gateway. Usually, the art is based on something on the page itself, such as a hilarious headline, or, more commonly, an abbreviation for an ad title.
The Gateway has never had, and will probably never need an official intern. This ad is actually for “Gateway Internal” but that matters not. Some days, I like to dream.
Meet Phillipe.
Short of Christmas, Canadian Thanksgiving weekend is the time of the year where families gather and conversation bubbles. While visiting mom and dad today, my 11-year-old cousin shared a story with me regarding an experience she had with a new teacher, fresh out of her B.Ed.
My cousin recounts that, during a social studies class, she asked the teacher a reasonable question: something along the lines of why the Alberta PC government has a monopoly on democracy. I won’t brag too much on the clever kid’s sharp thinking just yet, but according to her, the teacher just rolled her eyes and told her not to ask silly questions.
“I have a right to have my question answered,” my cousin replied. “My parents pay your salary.”
“No they don’t!” the teacher chirped defensively. “The government does!”
There are two things wrong with this setting. First, the teacher’s factual fallacy on just where her paycheque comes from. It baffles me that a so-called educator is unable to make the sort of basic connection that an 11-year-old student is able to, and understand that parents are taxpayers, and it’s their money that goes to directly funding — you know what? I’m sure you’re smart enough to connect the dots here, too.
More troubling, though unfortunately common, is the teacher’s overall attitude. This isn’t an isolated incident, either. I myself can recount several instances where my questions that stepped outside the bounds of the teacher’s lesson notes was met with scorn and anger. It almost seems to be a natural defense mechanism, wherein an educator can’t admit that he or she is unable to deal with the kind of critical thinking that should be (but isn’t) taught in schools, and responds not with humility, but with a desperate clinging to what little authority their position grants them. Rinse, repeat, and multiply, and you’ve got an entire educational system that discourages children from thinking outside the box and questioning the world around them. It’s by no means a new phenomenon; it’s merely a disturbing one, and one that seems to be incredibly prevalent in the Alberta education system.
It seems the war’s pace has slowed after the initial volleys. Rest assured, the battle rages on — Conal just had some difficulties procuring a scanner this time around:
Carried themes are feet, repair, monsters, horns, wheels, and pilots. Hoo-boy, this is getting out of control.
I guess deadlines aren’t an issue on the Sketch War anymore. That, or I’ve just spent the past week being entirely useless.
In any case, here she be! Carried themes are feet, repair, monsters, horns, and wheels. I went a bit more subtle (lazy) on some of them this time around.
Conal’s picking up the pace and already has the next volley off. I’m having a lot of fun with this project — it’s providing a great opportunity for the both of us to experiment with different styles and play off each others’ ideas working under certain constraints.
Carried themes are feet, repair, monsters, and horns. I should have my response up here at some point within the next three days. Just add me to your RSS feed, or, better yet, follow me on Twitter @mike_kendrick
If we can’t be experimental in this sketch war, then I don’t know what the point is.
This is the first complete piece I’ve ever inked with a brush pen. They sure are tough to use. I’m not fully satisfied with it, but considering the emphasis on “sketch” in this contest, I’m not about to start making excuses or apologies. The themes carried over are feet, repair, and monsters.
Check the blog by Wednesday for Conal’s official response in the next round of our little stand-off!
As of this Saturday, it will officially be six weeks until Halloween. This is important.
That’s six weeks to brainstorm, organize, plan, shop, construct, and launch my annual Halloween party, Bloodfeststravaganza IV. The clock’s ticking.
Upon discovering that Custom Costumes — one of Edmonton’s better seasonal Halloween shops — is open for the season, I promptly made my wa down there and picked up my first retail prop: a lovely skinned-and-severed head to add to my collection.
It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year.
