Ninja Mountain Episode 63 - "Sometimes I Just Wonder - What it's All For?"

Strap on your jet pack of chat and blast off into the wild blue yonder with your Ninja Mountain friends! On this episode it's a cross-Atlantic team up megashow, with Silent Andy, Jeremy, Jon, Ralph, Socar and early bather Torstein. Under the lazor-scope this week is the weighty topic of workload and self improvement. But fear not! It's not all content!


http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/ninjamountain063.mp3



Subscribe at the iTunes store: You know it makes sense.

Show notes to follow if we can think of any...

Episode 51 -How Do We Explain Ourselves??!

In this episode Andy ( See?! He's not last this time!), Patrick, Socar, Drew, and Jeremy talk about:

How we explain our profession to non-Ninjas.

The vague line between illustration and fine art.

More about every Ninja's favorite book, "Frankenstein", as beautifully illustrated by none other than the amazing Bernie Wrightson.

The sleeping habits of a certain Ninja.

The disappearing craft of inking and...

The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

http://mchughstudios.com/ninjamountain_podcast/episode_51.mp3

Subscribe on iTunes, or the noodly goodness that is the Flying Spaghetti Monster will be consumed by alien factions bent on human conquest...

If you strain your hearing you may even be able to make out Socar's hushed tones.

We think she was in the kitchen preparing dinner while joining in our conversation, but we will let you be the judge.

Points will be awarded for the best explanation of her microphone's poor sound quality! :)

Ninja Mountain 50 - ONE YEAR WASTED!!

Yes, this episode marks Ninja Mountain's one year anniversary. On hand to chat (and to keep the conversation as free from actual educational content as possible) we have Andy Hepworth, Anne Stokes, Socar Myles, Jeremy McHugh, Drew Baker and Patrick McEvoy! It's a fun, slightly crazy, and gloriously unfocused look at the last year, the year to come, and a number of topics that are sure to be of interest to someone. Somewhere. Maybe.

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain050.mp3


Show Notes:
Find out more about the early history of Ninja Mountain on the Escape from Illustration Island podcast episode 8:
http://escapefromillustrationisland.com/2009/10/13/episode-8-ninja-mountain/

Ninja Mountain 45 - Radio Ventriloquism

Started writing this in the style of a foul mouthed pirate. Then completely got over it. Think yourselves lucky.

So! Episode 45! This week the full Ninja Mountaineer Squad were largely indisposed, preparing for something called "Christmas". Nonetheless a plucky team of handpicked idio...panelists managed to get together and record their thoughts on the newly released version 3 of painting software ArtRage.

In true Ninja Mountain style discussion rambles and ranges as you might expect as Andy, Scott and Jon open up their new programs and dive in, live to tape. They share their thoughts and observations on Ambient Design's new baby. Where others may hesitate in presenting a radio show about live use of a graphics program our crack team took no prisoners.


Bit of a special interest episode, we freely admit. But what? You gonna ask for your money back?

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain045.mp3

Subscribe on iTunes It's free and it feels so good!


Show Notes:
Artrage 3: http://www.artrage.com/

Doh! And now updated with our AR3 doodlings made during the recording of the show!
Jon:



Scott:



Andy:




Have no fear, we'll be back soon with more critique episodes, featuring both the work of the Mountaineers and our respected listeners!

Ninja Mountain 34 - Triple shot!!

It's a huge episode this week, with three utterly AWSOME segments! First, Andy, Socar, Patrick and Jeremy take lots and lots of questions from listeners and answer them with the laser-sharp focus and on-topic concentration for which we are justifiably famous. Then Ralph joins in to talk about making your art dynamic - what are the elements that art directors are looking for in a visually exciting picture? Then Anne joins in to to talk about preparations for a new picture (spoiler alert: we ALL agree!) Audio fun-time nuclear happy starts... NOW!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain034.mp3

Subscribe on iTunes for free, because we all want to be your special friend.

Show Notes:
In a couple of days we'll put up all the twitter names here for the folks who wrote in with questions!

Ninja Mountain 33 - Life and Other Disasters

Welcome to the much-anticipated 33rd episode of Ninja Mountain! This week Andy, Patrick, Jeremy and Socar talk about artistic distractions, disasters, and other fun stuff that may or may not make any sense at all. But they are on their best behavior as they invite a guest artist to join in the chat: Drew Baker!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain033.mp3

Subscribe on iTunes for free, then sit back and enjoy the Awesome!

Show Notes:
Drew Baker

Ninja Mountain 32 - contractually obligated

Not just an episode! A contractually mandated obligation to you, our listeners. Andy, Patrick and Jeremy discuss working with new clients, some thoughts about contracts, working on new Intellectual Properties and the dreaded OTHER STUFF. Then, like a sweet zephyr of beauty, Socar joins the testosterone-laden group to add the fresh air of sanity to the male-dominated conversation. Or something.

Listen to it, there really might be some sentences which can be parsed into the English language... somewhere.

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain032.mp3

Subscribe on iTunes for free!
A message wouldn't hurt much, either.

Thank you for listening, please drive through.

Ninja Mountain Episode #26 - Love Hate Sleepy Time

It's that time of the week again. Set your ears to stun and tune in to the latest slice of happytime sugartaste goodness from Ninja Mountain!

We're back to a compact and bijou hour long show this week as the whole team were frankly exhausted.  In spite of their advanced state of fatigue another wonderful* show was wrung out of them drop by drop until the sonic cup verily flowethed over!  This week we take listeners calls once again, with two questions from the wonderful Christopher Burdett, and the fantastic Caroline Himmelman.  And in fact we even come close to answering some those questions!  The love runs free and its hug time for everyone.  

This week's questions:

Why are fantasy artists apparently so nice to each other when we're all in competition?

How do you cope with falling short of teh awesome?

Would you talk about a bad experience with an art director? On line? With friends? (We might not get round to answering the friends part in much detail since we got motoring on the online topic...)

Between the actual content there's a gold mine of actual singing, dancing and all the other things four freelancer artists do when they are too tired to know any better! This week's show is presented by Andy, Jeremy, Jon and Socar.  

We mention it in the show, but it seems appropriate to give a shout out to our other caller of this week, the mighty ATOM, who's call will feature on next week's show when we have our resident monitor expert back on hand to give some real information.  Thanks ATOM, we love you.   As ever you can call the show on Skype via jon.hodgson.

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain026.mp3

Subscribe on iTunes for free... It's LOVELY!!

The Show Notes

Christopher Burdett: http://www.christopherburdett.com/

Caroline Himmelman: http://www.carolinehimmelman.com/

(Caroline is also on the WIP Podcast (Good interview this month guys! I was cheering! Jon):  http://www.wippodcast.com/

*c'mon this is ad copy, what do you want?

Ninja Mountain Podcast #19 - International Ninja Conspiracy

A special, history-making podcast today as Jon interviews Ben Wootten, some Andy, Jon and friends record in an Actual Scottish Pub, and Patrick, Jeremy and Socar discuss jobs gone wrong! Don't be the only person you know to miss it!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain019.mp3

Subscribe for free on iTunes!

Show Notes:

Ben Wootten:
http://www.benwootten.com/?page=home

John Howe: http://www.john-howe.com/
Alan Lee: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Lee
Angus MacBride: http://www.lookandlearn.com/blog/?p=77
Kevin Walker: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kev_Walker

Pubcast section:
The Malt Shovel: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/edinburgh/pubguide/maltshovel.html
The MeeeMooo: www.jonhodgson.com/meeemooo
Matt from the pub: http://www.myspace.com/troldeskau
Scott Neil on The MeeeMooo, since his site seems on the fritz: http://www.jonhodgson.com/wordpress/?page_id=8
Ben Powis: http://www.benpowis.net/
Dragon Warriors: http://www.magnumopuspress.com/?page_id=32

Artists mentioned:
Jack Vettriano: http://www.jackvettriano.com/
Peter Howson:http://www.peterhowson.net/
David: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Louis_David

Miscellaneous:
Lochaber Axe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lochaber_axe
Targe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Targe
Edinburgh Castle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_castle
National Museums of Scotland: http://www.nms.ac.uk/
Mervyn Peake: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mervyn_Peake

Bitz of Art



==========================================
BREAKING NEWS! DIAL A NINJA
This will get its own post once the new episode has had a little time to get out there, but news just in! You can now phone in voicemail for the show via jon.hodgson on Skype. Call in, leave us a message and we'll probably play it on Episode 20!

Ninja Mountain Podcast #18 - Adventures in Colors and values

It's a long one today, as we talk about color and value. Ralph, Andy, Socar, Patrick and Jeremy take us through an admittedly introductory discussion about the nuts and bolts of these vast subjects, as well as a few of our normal detours into areas unknown.


http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain018.mp3

Subscribe for free on iTunes!

Show notes:

WiP Podcast
Big Illustration Party Time Podcast

Rendering in Pen and Ink, Guptill

Rendering in Pencil, Guptill (out of print, buy it used!)

Unseen Shadows: 50 cover concept illustrations, Steranko (expensive but hey, you're worth it!)
(And it's up on ebay right now!!)

Blue and Yellow Don't Make Green, Wilcox

Ninja Mountain Podcast #17 - Barely legal internet action

All the aspects of Internet relations, web behavior and our online personae are discussed in this episode, with Andy, Socar, Patrick, Jon and Jeremy. How do we approach this big wide world of web? Well, you may hear something new and perhaps even entertaining as we tackle a subject as huge as Cyberspace itself!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain017.mp3

Subscribe for free on iTunes!

Show Notes:

Pulp Art: Original Cover Paintings for the Great American Pulp Magazines

Ninja Mountain Podcast #13 - Ninjapocalypse NOW!!

In the above image we see Patrick editing the podcast.

Welcome to a very special episode of Ninja Mountain, as we introduce long-time Ninja Mountaineer Socar Myles! First up, Andy, Jeremy, Patrick and Jon talk about the things that have influenced their art outside of other art - mostly movies and literature. (We'll admit there's not a lot of hard-hitting educational content in this one, but at least we had fun...) Next, Jeremy and Patrick join Socar in a discussion about illustration, commissions, world travel, pen nibs, and anything else they happened to stumble across in the course of their conversation. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain013.mp3

And inevitably, iTunes!


NB: Right near the end of this cast there are a couple of skype IM "pings". You're not going mad if you hear them and get totally confused by the fact you're not actually being pinged. One day the whole panel will WEAR SOME DAMN HEADPHONES OMG!




Show Notes:
Socar Myles - gorblimey.com

Melissa Findley
Jan off of rpgnet
Casablanca
Citizen Kane
7th Voyage of Sinbad
Zardoz

Socar in Spectrum - medium: "blow": The Rat Queen's Wedding Party

Skeleton fight!!

Ninja Mountain Podcast #12 - Effortless efforts

Jon, Jeremy, Andy and Patrick talk about the effort put into illustrations, and how the time and money equation ties in to things. This leads into the practicalities of doing a good job on time, and somehow leads to a discussion on the fine art of the critique. Oh, who are we kidding - we're just all over the map this week. But it's a fun discussion, so please join us!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain012.mp3

Or subscribe for free on iTunes!

Show notes to be filled as interest warrants:

Ninja Mountain Podcast #11 - Ninjas gone WILD

Welcome to episode 11 of the Ninja Mountain Podcast! This week you'll delight in discussion, debate, dialogue and diatribe. We can't think of anything you'd rather do with an hour and a half of your precious time than listen to Andy, Scott, Jon, Patrick and Jeremy ramble on about artiness - can you?

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain011.mp3

And we're totally rockin' the iTunes

Show notes:

Illustration Magazine
Illustration Magazine's Blog
What is Lager?
Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Comics and Sequential Art by Will Eisner
Graphic Storytelling & Visual Narrative

Ninja Mountain Podcast #10 - a Milestone!

Welcome to Episode Ten! They said we'd never make and by George they were almost right!

In this episode we see our giant ninja robot split once more into mini fighting units spread across the globe. Whilst Patrick takes a much-needed break, Jeremy, Kieran and Andy discuss working environments including Kieran's downtown studio of lurve, Jer's rickety lean to/basement and Andy's salubrious art boudoir with its wall of filth; Jon and Ralph almost open the digital vs trad debate but then don't really; and finally Britbot Ninjas Andy, podnoob Scott Purdy and Jon Hodgson talk about their development as artists and some of the stupid stuff they used to think compared to the stupid stuff they think now!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain010.mp3

Its a smasher! And it's just as good on iTunes

Show notes will be forthcoming just as soon as everyone sobers up.

The Art of Spirited Away
Animation Backgrounds
Scott Purdy
The Brits wear these when they work...except Andy

Ninja Mountain Podcast #9 - Spinning ideas into gold!

Well, it's that time of the week again. And this time out we have a very talkative group indeed - Patrick, Jon, Jeremy, Keiran and Ralph chat about the very big subject of getting ideas from your head and onto the page. And getting those ideas in the first place... And what happens when there aren't any ideas at all! Plus a book review and an exciting tool tip. Join us for a very special episode, won't you?

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain009.mp3

Or click here if iTunes is more your thang.

Show notes

Oblique Strategies: http://www.rtqe.net/ObliqueStrategies/
Jon's painting teacher from high school: http://www.chrisdaynes.co.uk/
JW Waterhouse: http://www.jwwaterhouse.com/
Leeds Royal Armouries: http://www.armouries.org.uk/home
Leeds UK?: link
Drawing Board?: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drawing_board
Art Order! Art Order

Drafting machines?
Here's the kind Patrick has.

Here's the kind that attaches more solidly.


Patrick says: here's a great example of what I was talking about when you have a subject that isn't exactly scintillating, but you still need to do something to make it interesting. Here, I was given the assignment of doing this World of Warcraft card featuring a Shield on a warrior's back. The shield was based on a previous design that needed to be used, and the card had to prominently feature the item (it's an "item" card)

Now, this wasn't really much to go on, so this was a case where I decided to make the picture about textures and light, rather than action or story. And I think it came out OK - I tried to make the piece attractive by doing lots of shine, reflections and highlights on the shield contrasting with worn and textured armor and floor. So when I mention the "fine art" approach of adding interest to an illustration, this is what I'm talking about!

(This picture is copyright © 2007 Upper Deck and Blizzard, used by permission.)

-Patrick

Ninja Mountain Podcast #8 - Ninja Army ATTACK!!

This week we present an unstoppable ninja army so huge, so utterly without hope of containment, that we split it into three parts! Joining Jeremy, Patrick, Jon, Andy and Kieran, we also introduce Anne Stokes, Ralph Horsley, and Mattias Snygg. The first segment features Anne, Jeremy, Patrick and Kieran. The second part brings us Ralph, Andy, Jon and Jeremy, and the third is a one-on-one with Jon and Mr. Snygg. Enjoy the bounty!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain008.mp3

Or do what the cooool kids do - iTunes!


Show Notes:
http://mattiassnygg.com/
http://www.annestokes.com/
http://www.ralphhorsley.co.uk/

Armor links
http://www.bestarmour.com/
http://www.mac-armour.cz/index_en.htm
http://www.armstreet.com/
http://steel-mastery.com/index.php?&model=cat_page&category_id=17

The Medieval Soldier: 15th Century Campaign Life Recreated in Colour Photographs

Ninja Mountain Podcast #6 - Photo Ref & Marvel talk

Jon is gone for a couple of weeks, but in his stead we've recruited two - yes TWO - alternate Ninjas for duty. Let's have a big round of applause for Kieran Yanner and Scott Johnson!


http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain006.mp3

Or get it on iTunes!

This week's topics include photo reference, a bit of illustration history, freelancers on contract, a new book review, and some discussion about Scott and Patrick's work for Marvel (in broad terms so no one has to be killed for saying too much!)

Even though Jon was out this week, he did provide some new sounds and closing music - please enjoy!

John Howe Fantasy Art Workshop
Norman Rockwell official site
sketchup.google.com
www.daz3d.com

Scott Johnson - scottjohnsonart.com/
Kieran Yanner - kieranyanner.com/

Here are some examples of Scott's Marvel art:
Spider-Man
Marvel Montage
Marvel Universe panorama

Are you following us on Twitter?
Patrick McEvoy
Scott Johnson
Jeremy McHugh

See you next week!

Ninja Mountain Podcast #5 - Process talk

This week we talk process! How we do what we do when we do it. As usual, we can't stay entirely on topic so expect a lot of chat about what goes on in those feverish little brains of ours.

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain005.mp3

Get it on iTunes!

As always please feel free to let us know what you think. :)

The Notes!
Adobe Photoshop
Corel Painter
The ubiquitous Artrage

Rembrandt
Grisaille


Rodney Matthews
Patrick Woodroffe
John Howe
Jim Steranko
McHugh's blog


Frazetta books on Amazon.com

What Jon painted instead of concentrating on the show...

Ninja Mountain Podcast #4 - The Dreaded Dealines!

The Ninjas bring you an episode fraught with danger and intrigue! Can Jon finish his assignment in time? Can we segue topics without laughing about it? Can so many topics fit in one podcast? Find out this week in the Ninja Mountain Scrolls, episode 4 - this time it's personal!

http://www.megaflowgraphics.com/NinjaMountain/NinjaMountain004.mp3

iTunes is great as well!

This week, we start off with a discussion about deadlines - why are they important, how do you make them, and how does one juggle multiple jobs at once? We share our ideas on getting effective work done that's both good and on time. Then we start what promises to be a few segments on a big topic: Conventions! Love them or hate them, most artists in our line of work have to go to at least a couple a year. We get the ball rolling this time by talking about a number of different con-related issues, and even a couple of fun stories. As we roll in to the convention season, we'll have more on this in the future, for sure!

Show Notes:

Manga Studio
The Fantasy Art Techniques Of Tim Hildebrandt
Bluemoonrising.com

Here's a Yahoo group of artists who attend fantasy/SF art shows and other art events:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SciFiFantasyHorrorSpace_ArtShows/