August 30, 2005
First iTunes Album
OK, it's not MY album, but I'm excited to have played a small part in it. Don't buy it here, though. Again, get it direct from the artist's site.
Light Night Rains
The best blog ever. I love this. A must see. I often cry laughing when I see what he's put up. Cory Godbey is a good man. Check out his site. He does great work at Portland Studios.
August 24, 2005
Portland Office Space
Cory and Justin at work.
Cory working on chapter spot art for Landon Snow 2.
Jamin Jantz managing projects.
Jamin again.
Justin Gerard's roughs for a new internally developed story.
Cory's drawing board.
Cory cleaning up Landon Snow chapter spot artwork.
Brannon checking email.
The newly married Chris showing off the size of the spider in his cabin on his recent honeymoon.
Chris Koelle.
Sketches for a new project by Chris.
Chris' roughs for a new website.
The meeting table.
August 23, 2005
August 22, 2005
Romans 13:11-12
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
Empty Wells
It seems with maturity also comes a tendency to shut down open discussion of my ideas. At least for me. I can remember a younger version of myself that was much more likely to strike up an intense debate on an issue---me defending my point of view, someone else at the lunch table taking the opposing view. This sort of scenario had it's pros and cons. Often it led to a rather antagonistic spirit---however, these discussions forced me to refill my wells with new books, new ideas, and fresh viewpoints.
As I'm a few years out of college now, I have an opposite tendency. When I see some younger people lunge into an issue regarding Christianity, art, culture, what we should or shouldn't do, I often clam up and withdraw.
Where does this come from? Perhaps it's only pride. Perhaps I really don't want to "stoop" to interact with someone more youthful than myself. Perhaps I've simply become more settled in my ways. Maybe I'm just not wanting to have my opinion challenged.
As I read other bloggers' posts on the Web, I feel many feelings at once. First: Where do people get the time to write stuff like that. Second: I wish I had a well of experiences deep enough to pen a paragraph like that. Why don't I feel that deeply anymore?
The probable truth is that I do feel that deeply, but I simply and quickly gloss over thoughtful moments with a speedy return to the day's schedule. Those things I simply must do.
Oh, how to slow enough to ponder and persuade again. But may those moments come with a large dose of humility and grace and Gospel-driven motivation.
Time Management
I'm such an idiot. I bounce between laziness and trying do too much at once. We must learn as human beings that we can't do everything. As John Piper mentioned this last weekend at the Desiring God Regional Conference--we really must see that to stay up late every night, to pack too much in, to work seven days a week, is an affront to God's sovereignty. I must get it in my thick head that I don't have to say yes to every potential commitment and obligation. It's time to pare down my life to doing a few things well rather than accomplishing many mediocre tasks.
Vonage and More
We just set up Vonage at the Portland Studios office today. Finally we're through with 2 and a half years of using our cel phones and fighting for good reception. Our new number is: 1-(864)-335-8220.
As an update: Overall, we're making some great progress on our office space on Stone Ave. We're all able to work in one room now. Jamin and I are next to each other so we can bug each other by the moment on project management stuff. Chris is on our side of the room. Justin and Cory are on the other side of the big room for now. Next steps: Get the conference room ready. Finalize Del and Dana's office space. Redo the entry room.
It's pretty nice to have our AirTunes running into a sound system in the ceiling. Jamin, Justin, Chris, or I can be the DJ from any one of our desks, wirelessly.
The big challenge at our office right now is working through office systems---honing the way information is passed around, and how we keep track of jobs.
Justin Gerard is working on a new cover for a novel being published by P & R Publishing. Chris is starting on a commission by Oxford University Press. Cory is prepping some art for a Publishing Board pitch at Tommy Nelson for a book. Jamin is running all over meeting with design clients as well as managing our illustration jobs with publishers around the country. I'm filling in loose ends. Odd jobs---changing task about every 10 minutes it seems. About to begin on a new set of TV ads for a local hospital.
Justin and the other artists are excited about the DVD's they're discovering from The Gnomon Workshop. Currently Ryan Church is THE name around here.
Going up to Nashville on Sept. 1st for business and Andrew's release party for the new album. Should be fun. Planning on staying with my good friend, Jon Kopp in Knoxville.
Pre-Order the CD
Please purchase this CD from the artist directly. Andrew says on his online forum:
Hey, folks!
Thanks for the encouraging words from you street team members. I'm so glad you're enjoying the record, and I can hardly wait for the rest of you to hear it.
I have a LARGE (thankfully) pile of pre-orders sitting here at my house that Jamie and I plan to spend the next several days packaging and mailing off. So, if you ordered it from the website it's going in the mail in a matter of days. Hopefully you'll receive it on or around the release date.
Jamie and I have been overwhelmed with the support you guys have shown us in pre-ordering the cd, and it's already an answer to our prayer that lots of people would hear these songs. In my wildest dreams, God would use them to draw you closer to Him.
AP
August 13, 2005
LA Trip / Koelle Wedding
Last Friday I flew back in from a great trip that Justin and I made to Los Angeles for the SIGGRAPH convention. The whole trip was a fantastic benefit to both Justin and me. I know that Justin especially was inspired to really refocus on more animation concept art---more quickly conceived work---but story-based. Art that tells the story in a single image in 2 seconds. Chris Sanders was a particular inspiration to talk to. His work on Lilo and Stitch and other films quintessentially exhibits the qualities that we want in Portland's artwork.
I write this from the Buffalo, NY airport. I'm heading back after being Chris Koelle's wedding last night. A magic event. Two becoming one. The gravity and joy combined made for a moving few hours. Thank God for close friends. Thank God for picturing Christ's love for the Church so exquisitely in marriage.
August 10, 2005
Far Country Concept art
Below are some images that went into the creation of Andrew Peterson's new album cover. The first one is a quick sketch concept we fired off to Andrew to see if maybe "this would be the one." Soon after, Justin Gerard started to mess with the tones and strokes and honed in on something closer to the final look. The last image is the final album cover.
