Yesterday I gave the keynote for the Global Game Jam 2012 in Leeuwarden. Below are the slides that I promised to upload. Here is one slide about the emotional roller coaster that I always went through when I took part:
The emotional roller coaster that is the 48 hours of a Global Game Jam.
The rest of the slides is a bit more practical about how game jams and big game development is similar -and what to keep in mind: Zip of the complete Keynote
My third Redhead Day in Breda, Holland – an event especially for red haired people.
And somehow it gets better every time. The organizing was really good and at the end some nice clients invited me for dinner… so I can paint them at home (thanks for the food 
). I enjoyed it very much.
It seems though, that was the last really nice warm day here in Holland. Since then, it’s been all cold and rainy – so no more outside events this year unfortunately.
Luckily there are inside events in Amsterdam too. Today I’m going to an fashion event, where they invite artists to paint the models.
To the pictures… and since it’s too many, only post a selection here. Which is tough, since this time I think all turned out well. You can see every image and model in the gallery.
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Finally I can show all the results of the “Art for Arts Sake” event at Distelweg that I talked about earlier. Nadia organized a collaboration weekend. Nadia, David, Ronald and me were painting together on lots of pieces.
It was an interesting surprise to see how much people enjoyed watching the process, even staying there for hours on both days. It’s surely something we want to do again.
Some of my paintings on the wall.
The audience was hypnotized
Sitting around and doodling
Besides being fun, I think its very good for learning. We gave every piece to the next person as soon as we were stuck. So the flow was nice, since everyone had an idea how to continue. And you could very exactly see how someone else approached the work.
Here’s the selection of pictures I liked most – but there is more picture stuffs at the beetje-lastig-blog.
Art for Art Sake - Collaboration 3
Collaboration 11 ... bubble-head-girl
Collab 12 ... some interesting 'stories' evolved out of the pictures.
Collab 13 ... an evil fetus - done on audience request
Last week me and some friends were drawing on beer mats again - I think over the years we filled quite some of them Great fun. Usually I leave them in the bars, but this one is special. Spot how many creatures you can find on this one. Careful though: if you look to long at it, I'm sure you can go insane.
I made a little JavaScript - so if you have a browser with HTML5 support, then you can rotate this with your mouse.
And so that it's not just one image - here is one other coaster I have lying around at home.
Another one, where someone drew me, but I have no clue anymore who did it. If anyone recognizes it, lemme know
I’ll write two entries about my exhibition that started last week. One practical one, that might help artists looking to organize an exhibition. And this first one more as what it gives to my right side of the brain.
First of all it was truly fun. Having a first showing is a great chance to invite all friends and just enjoy. I’m really happy about everyone who showed up – even though it was impossible to give everyone the attention they deserved. Then again: Not that I was needed, everyone was busy meeting new people – all is well.
Oh yeah, and I would have been lost without the many friends helping out. Maroesja who made the whole thing possible at all. Maga who organized the awesome food – Sanna, Kaisa and Norma for helping her. Uno for making delicious Japanese cakes. Caroline, Ramon and Vika for taking pictures. Txell, Svetlana and Tobias for being handymens (if it wasn’t for them I would still be working). And Maryse for the professional marketing advice… plus many others I bothered for guidance
There is a lot to be learned about your own art at such an event. You see your images in a new light. Adding frames makes an immense difference. Some pictures that look average when lying in a huge pile at home, turn out into swans when getting a real frame with lots of space.
Here are some pictures showing the setup.
 Thomas presents... the main wall with the oil colors. I'm not posing! |
 Wall two with watercolors and drawings. |
 And Wall 3 with digital art and inks |
Seeing the reaction of visitors is priceless. You can learn what they gravitate to – what they like and don’t like.
Surprising to me: My little sketches that I do in 5 minutes found a lot of fans. I do love them myself but I thought they are too personal for others to relate. I have a story about each image, but the viewer does not know them. Still, lots of good feedback.
 The sketchbook pages... |
 ...were hanging from the ceiling... |
 in the center of the room. |
The oil paintings were the center and did also get a lot of reactions. Viewers read a lot into images – it was surprising how strong you can affect people sometimes. The images and drawings that mean much to me did also get most reactions interestingly. Sometimes though the opposite of what I felt. The intensity comes through, the intention not always. And every now and then viewers see things I just didn’t realize. Painting happens to me sometimes like a trance, and I have to discover the image myself.
There was also some straight forward critique to images. Something very hard to find, and worth every effort.
Some long time artists gave me input on the pricing – very helpful, since I am clueless about that. I will adjust
What I take from all that: I am moving in the right direction. But there is a looooong way to go.
Painting more friends will be one way to get honest expression in my work. And I want to combine the looseness and depth of my sketches with the quality of the oils. This is my task and I hope I can find the time and money to go for that.
I sold some art, and I got some new opportunities through this. But if it really worked out I will judge when it is over – the gallery is still open every Friday and Saturday. Then I will also write the second self-review.
Here are more photos – thank you all for the great time.
 The first people just came when I put up the last image. |
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 The critics! They'll find any mistake! |
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 The food worked out nice... |
 ...and there it goes. |
 I'm happy about the Japanese sweets. The wrapping was designed by Uno... |
 ...with the idea that I draw patterns on top of the stamp design. |
 Behind the scenes. |
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