Panem Map

I just finished the Hunger Games, the novel by Suzanne Collins, which was enjoyable if not exactly high fiction (or even medium fiction such as The Road).  Still always fun to run around in a dystopian future.  However it lacked a good map.  And all the internet’s homemade maps were less than stellar.  So I made one myself:

IF - Trail

Moby Dick – Opera Style

Laura and I went to our first opera last night to see Moby Dick. It was a stellar production with a great cast and a fantastic set. Opera singing isn’t my medium of choice but I enjoyed every other aspect of the show, from the literary adaptation to the video projection. I couldn’t take any pictures during the show ( you can go here to see some photos and here as well) so you will have to settle with pictures of the building:

IF - Detective

This is what I always imagined would happened if these two ever met.

IF - Subterranean

Legolas and Gimli exploring some caves.

Birthday Loot

Thought some of you might like to see what you got me for my birthday. I though it was a pretty accurate snap shot of my life at the moment. Once again thanks.

Why is Our Top Categorical Distinction for Literature Between Fiction and Non-Fiction?

While the delineation between fiction and non-fiction exists, I don't think it's the most authoritative categorization of literature (or reality). I blame the Enlightenment.

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet

I just finished reading the debut novel of Reif Larsen. It was pretty amazing and I highly recommend it. I couldn't resist producing an illustration (and I apologize in advance for those who are easily offended by strong language or insects). For an explanation you will just have to read the book.

5 Favorite Books of 2009

I started keeping track of everything I have read in August or September and since my memory is horrible this list is really “5 favorite books of the latter half of 2009”.

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A Place of My Own::Michael Pollan

Best architecture reading. Pollan, known more for his non-fiction on food, wrote this book describing the building of his writing retreat. He really delves into all that goes into making a building from architectural theories to sanding window sills.

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American Gods::Neil Gaiman

Best Neil Gaiman. I read (or listen to) a lot of Gaiman this year so he gets his own category. Sandman was a close contender as was Stardust. The use of setting, finding all the unusual but forgotten places in America, was especially impressive for someone who was born across the pond.

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Planetary::Warren Ellis

Best comic book series I read this year. About a group of “archeologists of the secret history of the twentieth century” whose job is to save the world by unearthing the weird stuff that normal people won’t acknowledge or comprehend. Great concept, great art, great characters. Runners up: Fables, Mouse Guard Winter , Persepolis, Maus, and Sandman.

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Jungle Book::Rudyard Kipling

Best classic fiction. The story of Mowgli really shines when compared to the overly polished Disney rendition. The man/nature dichotomy is used to full effect as a twelve year old boy without fear or hesitation pwns Shere Kahn in the wolf council.

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Life of Pi::Yann Mantel

Best unexpected reading. We picked this up on a whim and it turned out to be really interesting. For a work of fiction that does a stellar job at playing itself off as non-fiction, it does a remarkable job at allegory. The island chapters recall Lewis’ brilliant sci-fi trilogy and the end twist is heart wrenching. Add to that a great character in Pi, a lot of interesting thoughts on zoos and religion, and some great survival writing..

IF - Skinny

A Sorn from Lewis's Out of the Silent Planet.

In Celebration of Sub-creation

So we had this big frame sitting around so I decided to do a drawing for it. Came up with the idea to cram as many characters and creatures from mythos as I could into an 11” by 34” rectangle. Have fun trying to guess at them.

Recommendations

Film:

Ponyo

I feel really spoiled having seen both a Pixar flick and a Ghibli flick in the same summer. Laura and I went to see Ponyo on Saturday and had a great time; the theater was filled with kids and we sat next to two old ladies who loved Miyazaki. The story was something of a mix between Hans Christian Anderson’s Little Mermaid and Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. It had beautiful (if unexpectedly rough) animation, adult characters who were realistic and genuinely caring, child characters who were surprisingly mature but still childlike, complex environmental themes, a great mom who was also a crazy driver, a love of ham, and lots of Devonian fish.

Book:

A Place of My Own

I just finished this book by Michael Pollan, an author who is best known by his writings of food. Because of this I was surprised to find his name as I was browsing our firm’s library; what is a food writer doing in an architecture library? However this book is not about food but his thoughts as he builds a writing shack back in the woods on his property. He offers great insights into the world of architecture and construction from an outsider’s point of view. His usual mix clear thinking and wandering reflections are in full force here, and my only complaint was that the book needed more drawings (but that is my usual complaint no matter what the subject matter).

Art:

Butchers, Dragons, Gods, and Skeletons

The Kimbell’s current exhibition is a bit unusual but utterly fantastic. A good portion of their permanent exhibition is on display. I will pause a moment to say just how amazing their collection is. They have everything from Ancient Greek vases to Bernini’s terra cotta studies to a fun Caravaggio to a great Asian collection to impressionist masters. Interspersed through the collection are five films by Philip Haas, each based off a painting in the collection. These films are very interactive and give you a glimpse into the making of, the larger context, and the details of each painting. Best of all, it is entirely free.

WTWTA

So I ran across a blog yesterday called Terrible Yellow Eyes which is a forum for fanart of Where the Wild Things Are. It inspired me to create some of my own:
Also have some sketches I did before I drew the finished picture (which Laura called too weird/scary):

Also go watch the trailer for the movie, if for nothing else than a great song by Arcade Fire: http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/wherethewildthingsare/

15 Books

A fun exercise from Brian.

INSTRUCTIONS:
Fairly quickly, list 15 books that have shaped the way you view the world.

1. Tenth Anniversary Calvin and Hobbes (Waterson)
2. About Time (Davies)
3. Fables (Willingham)
4. Rural Studio (Mockbee)
5. Go Down Moses (Faulkner)
6. Crime and Punishment (Dostoevsky)
7. Form Space and Order (Ching)
8. A Collaboration with Nature (Goldsworthy)
9. Conversations With Students (Kahn)
10. East of Eden (Steinbeck)
11. Out of the Silent Planet (Lewis)
12. Till We Have Faces (Lewis)
13. Hobbit (Tolkien)
14. Circle of Quiet (L’Engle)
15. The Complete Fairytales (MacDonald)

Children's Book Part 2

I just got around to making the jpgs of the second children's book I illustrated last week for Theresa (who was taking the same class with Laura). I had less time to illustrate it but it came out pretty good nevertheless.

Also would like to wish Brian a happy birthday from the blogosphere.

Children’s Book

For Laura’s Children’s Literature class she got to write a children’s book, and I got to illustrate it. So we put much effort these past couple of weeks into it (and a late night last night) but it is finally finished. Much of the book was based on stories from both of our families. Hope you like it. (I know a blog is not the easiest format in which to read such a creation, but it hasn’t stopped me yet.)