School's in Session!

Hi all -
Before everyone got here, I did some prep work for the students and (with the aid of Bryan - I don't want him to go uncredited) sanded and varnished some lapboards for the SEQA students. I did 12 boards total, but this is only three of them. The view out beyond them is pretty nice. This is on the patio outside of Studio Two.

That was on the day, the little darlings were to arrive, so I had to clean up and get ready for them so they didn't think I was a bum.


I can't believe how smoothly it all went with the weather being so nice compared to last winter. In 2010, I was slogging up and down the hill for 6 hours and this year it was all over in less than 45 minutes. Everyone found their room and starting getting that "wow. I'm in France!" look.

The next day, after their trip to the APT Marketplace, I got to experience something new that they started after I was here -- a picnic lunch at Pont Julien - the old Roman bridge. As you can see, the weather was pretty ideal and everyone had a nice time.


Monday brought the first day of classes. At 9:00 a.m. my Advanced Drawing class (first photo) brought their eager faces in to Studio 2 (seemed like home) and had a great class. We did so well and were having such a good class that we forgot to take a break -- and it's a three hour class.

The next class was Travel Portfolio. It's a great class. I have 16 students for that one. It's my biggest class here. We went to the quarry to draw after my introductory lecture and had about an hour (or a tiny more) to be able to draw on site for the first time in France. Unlike last year's class where it was too cold to sit and draw most of the time, this was perfect weather for it. As you can see, there's always one "climber" and Daniel is my man for this class (as is, Matt, Sarah S, etc.)


Finally, on the second class day (Wednesday - yesterday), things really got rolling.

My hardest class so far is the crosslisted Vis 1 and Vis 2 class. But everyone is working to make it as smooth as possible and Wednesday's class went pretty well. In the photo, we're near the end of class and the Vis 1 students and discussing their Chickasaw layouts (yeah, I bring that assignment here, too) and the Vis 2 students are finishing up their 'arriving at studio 2' in-class storytelling assignment.

The next two photos are the students from my Travel Portfolio class. We took a trip to the nearby village of Menerbes and they did some great drawings. It 's been great seeing their enthusiasm and how dedicated they are to trying new things and pushing their artistic skill set to a new level.

The last two photos are of my Advanced Drawing class. We had a lecture and then used the interior of the library to do some quick panel set ups with storytelling of a guy asking a girl on a first date. On site drawing can speed up the backgrounds that you draw and they did very well.

That's been it for the first week of classes. I am drawing my tushy off on the BLACK BOX (more later on it) and I'm catching up. It's so much warmer here than last year it's amazing. The sun is always bright when it's out.

I still miss Sue, though. She'll be here in a few weeks.

LACOSTE - Part Two

Hi-
It seems so different to be here this time. I'm in short sleeves today.

The students get here in a few hours. I've been here since Monday and it's Friday now. Classes start on Monday.

Here's a few pictures to show how different the campus looks without snow and freezing cold.

And Bonnieux couldn't look better.

So ... the students should have a great time. They say that this is the best arrival weather that we've ever had. It's a far cry from the freezing cold and snow from last year.

Classes soon.

Later-
Tom

Lots of BLOGGING soon - from FRANCE!

Yep.
I'm getting to go back and the blog will be blazing with posts while I'm there.
So ... get ready and check in often.

Hope everyone is well.

More soon.


Tom

TRUE GRIT (2010) - See it!!

First off:
I want Josh Brolin's agent to work for me. His part is so small, but he gets third billing. Wow!!

Now:
Go see this movie. Not only is it good, but there are great shots to see for influence in sequential work. In addition, despite the sometimes breaking of the 180 degree rule, the storytelling in this movie is impeccable. The Coen brothers know storytelling, that's for sure.

Good acting. Hailee Steinfeld is awesome. She has just the right blend of toughness and vulnerability to pull this part off.

Can't recommend this movie enough.

New Work - COVER ART

Hi all-
I should be (if all falls together with a contract) working on a book for publication in France next year. Two albums. Very cool. Great writer. New style things from Tom Lyle.

Here's a taste of what is coming:







I'm very excited about what is coming from this.

Can't give any details yet, but it's a cool adventure, political-intrigue story with a smidgen of sci-fi as well.

Good stuff.

By the way, they won't be using this as a cover, but it looks good anyway.

COMMISSIONS for SKETCHES!!

I've got a two week window of opportunity for those of you interested in getting a sketch from me. I'm taking orders on a first-come, first-served basis.

I will do full pencils on bristol board or inks on bristol board.

Send a note with an email and I will send you my rates.

Thanks for the interest.

Tom

STORYTELLING RANT #5,399 - A Punch in the FACE!!

SHERLOCK HOLMES - THE MOVIE
Visual Crack + Cartoon Characters + Gratuitous Gross Outs = CRAP!!!

What's the deal with what passes for stories these days?

I finally forced myself to watch the movie that purports to be about SHERLOCK HOLMES and it's a piece of crap. I had kept away from it for a long time because the reboot (read: modernization allegedly needed to make this character palatable to modern viewers/readers) revealed to me by the trailers for the movie showed a character called Sherlock Holmes, but one the was not even close to being Sherlock Holmes. Not the real one.

Okay. I admit I'm not the target audience.

I am not a disenfranchised teen or twenty-something suffering through the depression of becoming an adult and realizing that adulthood has a lot of crap attached to it - so life seems like a big bowl of crap.

It's not - but this movie is.

The gritty facade that backs up the visuals only serves to appeal to the depressed target audience. But Holmes and Watson are Shaggy and Scooby in terms of depth of character. Bad dialogue. Bad pacing. No narrative drive (all the drive comes from the visuals and artsy MTV video editing.)

You know, a movie that is classic appeals to all ages and has iconic qualities.

I use GRAN TORINO for my Visual Storytelling 2 classes. I show it to the students and they all love it. I love it. It has good characters, good pacing, good dialogue, good visuals and a real story.

SHERLOCK HOLMES is the exact opposite of this.

Can't we raise the bar (again, I appeal to you all) for what we watch and what we create to a level that tries for mass appeal versus a small, but profitable, niche?

I don't know. Why do you people like this piece of crap? I'd love to hear why.

Keep writing. Keep drawing.