grapetang

Very cool! Looking forward to following this & the other VF-2 build!

Nice! What was the base or was this a full scratch build?

More like "Hard Work!" (damn!!!) Nice job. I enjoyed watching it & the other videos/animations!

Beautiful work! I love the "real" colors & weathering and the photography. Great job! Makes me want to dig out my unbuilt models and try...

Looks great! Nice sculpting & paint job!

I remember that! The story is correct. The poster was done by Lionel Lum from the San Francisco bay area (California, USA). The bottom credit lists his name and the poster as a commission for AnimeExpo 1996 (the 5th anniversary). Nice guy. His current projects are part of Usagichan Company Search & Rescue where there's an old link to that poster. He's done some neat cosplay props including a Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Bumblebee outfit for himself. Amazing how things have changed since AnimeCon and the early (dark) ages of anime fandom in the US...

I remember building that kit! It has nice proportions, especially the armor & strike cannon. Nice work. Keep learning & building!

Nice work, Poli! Love the coloring! Happy 10th, MW!

Wow!!! Beautiful work!!!

I like the Ranka drawing. Dynamic pose w/ nice curves! Looking forward to more!

Nice, clean build! I really like it and the display stand.

That's really neat! I'd like to try that on one of the Yamatos!

Wow! Nice work! Looking forward to seeing the finished figures. I also like your Wolvie, Snape, & orc on your Deviant page.

Had fun meeting everyone and hanging out today! Nice Toynami super- poseables and the neat Sheryl figure too. Thanks for organizing, UN Spacy! Looking forward to the next one!

I should be able to make this one (even if for a brief visit) Re: Nikaku: Yup, they're good for old art books, magazines, posters, pencil boards, CDs, DVDs, and maybe some vintage kits (tiny selection). There's also the video rental shop below the main one. They did great until anime/manga went mainstream and web sales ate into their business. It's been tough so it's not surprising that they kept the bulk of their inventory and haven't updated. The anime section is tiny, really tiny. Kimono My House in Emeryville (if they still exist) is/was a better place for toys & models. Re: Far Out Toys: How did they actually _stay_ in business?!?? Re: Kinokuniya: I like this store a lot. It's very similar to the SF one. I just wish I had a budget for all the $30-55 art books. There's also a small toy shop in Mitsuwa complex in the same lot. Re: food: SJ Japantown and Mitsuwa both have good places to eat. SJ Japantown: Minato - good place next to Nikaku. Can accomodate groups. Gombei- great place but small. CASH ONLY. Shuei-Do Manju - dessert only (fresh mochi) There're also sushi & ramen places. Mitsuwa: TomiSushi - good place. food court inside Mitsuwa. Ramen Halu - one of the highest rated ramen in the entire SF bay. 2 blocks N of Mitsuwa. Small and will be difficult for groups. High sodium content (not good for high blood pressure). CASH ONLY. There's lots of room in the Mitsuwa food court seating area. Hope members are well and that life, work, ex's, schedules, car, moving, funds, etc. are resolving. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Sure, more background, more details, more art & stuff! I'll try to come up with something too. The destroid gear's looking good!

Nice work. That was a fun read! Is the VF-5 dock-based that it starts off in the water w/ pontoons? No hydrofoil? Is there just one or are there more in the squadron?

Nice job, Poli & Dangaioh! Dangaioh - I like the feathered/smudged shading effect. The BDSM effect scares me though... Nice work! ps - background? :)

The J-Pop center is still under construction (in the distance of the first shot). Just happened by Japantown this afternoon and the Nihonmachi Street Fair was going on. Minor contingent of gothic loli's congregating to get some guy's autograph (HAKUEI?). Hope they finish by the time you guys meet up. Have a good time anyway! EDIT: Hmm... maybe I should've said that the building looks complete but empty. There are no signs, displays, merchandise, etc. visible...

Nice work! I initially thought your avatar was Asuka from Evangelion. Can't tell what it is now... Keep up the great art!

Wow. Lots of info there and it'll take a while to digest, let alone implement. Thanks!!!

Thanks for the links, chillyche. I use the layers method but I'll give it a try sometime. Feels like losing the safety net though. Congrats on the fanart contest, polidread! and nice work, akt_m, anime52k8, and temjin. I always love your watercolor style, akt_m; it reminds me of Mikimoto's. I use photoshop 6. I should probably just stick with pencils and study & practice more.

Thanks, Miriya! Great, detailed overview. A lot of the initial stuff is the same as his Wow! book segment from 2000. Neat idea w/ the copy & blur at 30% opacity for photographic effect. Thanks! As Polidread suggested. anyone have a video?

For those who attended Tommy Yune's photoshop talk during MWCon09, can anyone provide an overview/synopsis of his talk? or better yet, a detailed rundown of his process & techniques? It would be great for those of us who weren't able to attend. I've read his tips on layers & coloring from the old Photoshop 5/5.5 Wow! Book but I'm sure he's advanced considerably since then. General art, painting, photoshop, etc. tips & links can go here too. Many thanks!

Great job, Polidread, and congrats on the MWCon09 fanart contest!