Ricochet Hidden Talents
Diane Ellis, Ed. ·
Mar 2, 2011 at 10:22am
Over the months, it has come to my attention that we have a collection of extraordinarily talented members here at Ricochet.
As you all know, EJHill is a graphic mastermind. ~Paules, a self-described "culture warrior for the good guys," paints beautiful religious icons. And Aaron Miller writes and performs his own music.
I'm curious to know what other talents our members are blessed with. Do we have other artists and musicians in the mix? We'd love to hear about or see your work!
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Comments :
Nov '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Back in 2002, I proposed to my wife by writing and illustrating a children's book and surprising her at the school she taught it by reading it to her class. Its called the Knight and the Princess. I recently revisited it and completed the illustrations and got it bound as a gift to my two daughters for Valentine's Day. In typical Lance fashion, there are a couple typos. I am an author in need of an editor!
Anyway, I posted it online to share with friends. If you are so interested check it out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKqliXwLe0w
May '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Aw, Diane, you're two weeks early! I'm putting the finishing touches right now on a recording I'll be selling on iTunes/Amazon/et al. The song is called "Earth Girl" and its a sci-fi rockapella piece of fluff about a space alien that falls in love with a vacuum cleaner. Really.
Before that, I was selling a sci-fi jazz chamber opera for 2 voices and piano, a setting of Terry Bisson's famous story "They're Made Out of Meat." That one is no longer for sale. Any curious Ricochetian who'd like a free copy of TMOOM can email me at fred at fredosphere dot com.
Feb '11
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Lance: very nice. What was the music?
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Lance: Back in 2002, I proposed to my wife by writing and illustrating a children's book and surprising her at the school she taught it by reading it to her class. Its called the Knight and the Princess. I recently revisited it and completed the illustrations and got it bound as a gift to my two daughters for Valentine's Day. In typical Lance fashion, there are a couple typos. I am an author in need of an editor!
Anyway, I posted it online to share with friends. If you are so interested check it out...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKqliXwLe0w · Mar 2 at 10:46am
Wow, this is really cool! What did you use for the illustrations? It looks like ink and watercolor, but it's really hard to tell.
Sep '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
While I have conflicted feelings about posting this, I guess I have a lot to be humble about when it comes to my career, so please bear with me. I have been writing for the New York publishing cabals since 1985, when I made the Times list with Close Pursuit, a non-fiction book about NYPD Homicide cops. I've written over fifteen books. have lived a wonderful life as what is gently termed "a mid-list writer" but, at 64, I'm still standing, if not quite so tall. Thanks for asking, Ms. Ellis, and I hope I don't sound like a complete mook. Cheers!.
Edited on Mar 17, 2011 at 3:11pmJan '11
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Well, I play the cello, and achieved some degree of success when younger. I didn't choose music as a career, but now play in our city's community orchestra, which is a real mélange of mostly amateur and a few professional musicians. It's wonderful to still be able to play great works - and if I had more brains and energy I would be out there as an strong advocate for string programs in public schools.
Jul '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
I do 3d artwork, mostly portraits, in Poser and Photoshop.
Samples include...
Joan of Arc
Or a Scene inspired by the song, Balerina Out of Control
A portrait of Lady Mirriam
or a Fantasy Battle Scene (Content Warning, Contains Violence and Nudity.)
The Joan of Arc character was developed by combining Eva LaRue and Inger Stevens, Lady Mirriam is a wholey original character I've developed, and the Ballerina was a mantage of Russian Ballet members.
Work, however, is the bane of the Rendering Class so I do not spend as much time developing scenes as I would like.
Nov '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
I'm a painter. I've been doing this on and off since I was a kid; my first sales were in 1969 when I was 17. But life gets in the way, family health issues pushed me into getting a formal education and a long period of more lucrative work (health care really isn't free in Canada), which meant the art had to become part-time. My last show was 5 years ago. But the health issues are done with; so about a year and a half ago I went back to doing what I really love, full time.
I'm primarily a figurative artist, and have recently started working extensively with a single model, rather than just who ever is available ( though I do enjoy that as well). In our excessively noisy society with its depersonalized and inhumane art, I just want to go the other way. Finding someone who felt similarly took a long time; she's a young philosophy grad who has been modelling for a year or two, and a wonderful person to collaborate with on this. As a bonus I get schooled in philosophy.
Some of the work is at HalifaxCB.
Nov '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Wild bird photography--but as I have nothing posted online (it is a Zen pursuit for me), and Ricochet will not give me the full benefit of my monthly $3.47 by allowing me to post a modest 20G album here, I've had to get creative. See new profile photo.
Edited on Mar 2, 2011 at 5:02pmNov '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Thanks! I am really glad you enjoyed it. The music is "Flashing Pictures" by The Ghost is Dancing.
Nov '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Thanks Diane! My first question on craft. How cool is that! The original art is inks and oil pastels. But to achieve that particular look, I scan them into the computer and run them through an underpainting application. I was thrilled with how they turned out. For years, I never ventured beyond pencils into coloring. Its like a whole new world.
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
HalifaxCB:
Some of the work is at HalifaxCB. · Mar 2 at 12:09pm
Wow!!! I love your work. My favorite on the page was Hanna Precarious.
Amazing.
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
I do this kind of stuff.
I'm working on finishing my first in a series of Young Adult novels, The Curious Globe of Cornelius Crain (when Pseudodionysius is quiet and not talking about Galileo on Ricochet)...so in the past 3 days haven't touched it.
I've been investigating self-publishing it as an ebook, rather than going the traditional route but I want to have at least two or three color illustrations done for it (in the style of N.C. Wyeth, Chris Van Allsburg or Barry Moser would be nice). I may end up having to do the illustrations myself.
I've got other more adult novels in various stages of work on deck. I'd love to do this for a living but sometimes life and Ricochet get in the way.
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
The Young Cons are dropping a new song very soon. Yes, Ricochet does indeed get a shout out!
Sep '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
I'm an aspiring manualist.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Cool stuff. I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing more.
My old bassist wants to start a new band as soon as he's done taking all of the tests for an architecture license (probably at end of the year). Some things are best played solo, but a band is a wholly different experience.
Sorry the singing is hard to hear in those videos. I never was good at recording.
Brian Watt:
I've been investigating self-publishing it as an ebook, rather than going the traditional route...
I'm among the millions of people who would rather plan to write a novel than actually write one. It seems the only reason to use a publisher is for advertising. Publishers are so overloaded and the internet accelerates word-of-mouth marketing so well that I'd probably take my chances with Kindle... and sell my book for a buck (what it would be worth, anyway).
Thanks, Diane.
Sep '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
HalifaxCB: I
Some of the work is at HalifaxCB. · Mar 2 at 12:09pm
Halifax, are you familiar with the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto?
Nov '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
I can do that every morning without using my hands.
Oct '10
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
What a coincidence, so am I!
Re: Ricochet Hidden Talents
Pseudodionysius: I'm an aspiring manualist. · Mar 2 at 1:37pm
Does one's hands need to be perpetually moist to be a successful manualist? Mine hands are tiny, leathery, and chapped (from excessive hand washing) and I can already tell that I have no future as a manualist.