Mad Dog Summer by Joe R.Lansdale

 18 months ago, I read a collection of short stories someone lent me called 999. It was a collection of horror-type stories and the story, Mad  Dog Summer was recommended as the stand-out. I like American gothic stories, always have done. There is something about them, I can't really say more than that. I mean I would, but I cannot really explain what it is. Anyway, Mad Dog Summer is really good, and the imagery is strong and I meant to do a couple of doodles based on that story.
This pictures aren't really representative of the story, as much as what I thought one of the character looked like to me as I read it.

Denzel got an Oscar for Training Day?!

I've wanted to watch Training Day for a while. I like Denzel Washington and I do prefer it when he is 'baddie', or a morally suspect character. Though, this film was disappointing. It kind of goes through the motions and is quite generic. Dr Dre cannot act menacing. Sneering isn't acting, son. Washington is better in most of his other things, even Safe House. Dear oh dear.

Intermission painting

I don't know how this painting and creativity things work.
This for instance, came about because I was painting something else. Though nothing was working, I kept on hitting dead -ends. The concept wasn't as good as I hoped, and it kind of translated badly into the painting. So, I threw it aside and got some reference and whacked this one out in a hour. It means nothing. I like drawing faces with the eyes closed (easier as David Choe remarks) and birds are awesome. Simples.

The Dark Knight Rises

To say, I enjoy Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy wouldn't be true at all. I like Batman in comic book form, it hasn't always garnered the best stories but recently it is one of the better comics. Grant Morrison had a decent run, but Scott Snyder has taken it to the next level I think. The Black Mirror was a superb stand-alone TPB and the Court of the Owls is a revitalised spin on the best aspects of Batman and everything that surrounds that idea.
Anyway, I 'like' Batman Begins and I think The Dark Knight flounders badly once Rachel is killed and Dent's fall from grace begins. Also if that film didn't have Heath Ledger it would half the film it is. However, I like how The Dark Knight Rises dealt with the the journey of the character and how it enhances other aspects in the previous films. The ending also, wasn't the ending we needed but the ending we deserved.

My interpretation of Alien 3, I guess.

I like to do a drawing or a painting whilst being distracted by a film sometimes. Usually, if I've already seen it so I don't miss anything. I usually listen to podcasts, so I don't get too influenced.
The reason I like to draw while being distracted, is so how the influence of what I'm watching comes through my drawing. Sometimes it's subtle or bears no link to the film whatsoever. Though my theory is there has to be something that seeps through, intentionally or not.
I've rambled about this long enough.