...the worst thing to happen to deviantart  community...ever. It used to be awesome to get them those faves, to get that pat on the back, but now it's become a real nuisance and I have really grown tired of it.  The worst thing is what I call drive by faving, where a user goes through your whole gallery and faves EVERY SINGLE PIECE of art.

I would rather have a single thoughtful/critical comment than a lots and lots of faves. Faves really are practically just "good job" message over and over again.  It's nice I guess, but I really get nothing from them.
From comments I can actually learn something. I can interact with people who check out my works.

So please, I'm begging you, if you really appreciate my art, if you like it or hate it, let me know.

Comment before you fave. That's what I'm going to do.

-Ville

After careful consideration  and loong ass procrastination, I have decided to merge my two Deviantart accounts. As some of you may know, I have a second deviantart account (Tsususame) where I posted some random other than paleo stuff (Creatures, manga/anime sketches speedpaints etc.). I originally started the other account because I had begun  drawing stuff that was deviating from my normal repertoire and theme of this account, namely natural history illustrations.  I was also sort of afraid that people would react negatively if I all of the sudden started posting the random stuff there. After all, they had probably started watching my works because I posted paleo stuff, not because of random set of speedpaints/manga/anime/ stuff.

In hindsight I realise how stupid my reasoning was. It has also become sort of a burden of trying to keep up and managing two separate accounts. More often than not I end up neglecting the other, which means I'm not properly keeping up with all the faves and comments etc.

Hence I have decided to combine the two accounts....content wise that is. I will be ridding myself of the Tsususame account and moving SOME of the contents from there to this account.
Dinomaniac account will stay but I will be posting more diverse stuff from now on.

I'm pretty much done with anime/manga stuff. I like that stuff, but I'm past my worst weeaboo stage.
So most likely none of that stuff will appear here. The stuff I have done previously shall be erased from the memory of humankind.

However there will be creatures, environment stuff, portraits, fine art studies etc.

And ofcourse Paleo stuff.



That is all

-Ville

Recall Mette Aumala? Of Speculative dinosaur project fame?  If you don't, shame on you! She used to have small paleoart gallery in Dinosauricon 2.0 and also had (still has?) Scifi and fantasy galleries in  elfwood site.  If you have seen her work, trust me you would remember.

Anyways, I'm overjoyed to inform you that she has started a deviantart page!



Few higlights from her gallery:



More awesomeness in her gallery so go check that stuff out. NOW!

I was recently contacted by Mr. Fernando Correia ([link] who kindly informed me about yet another Paleo illustration competition. Mr. Correia asked me to pass the word around and because I think competitions like these are super duper awesome and important I'm doing just that and asking you do the same. Lets make it a good one!

Here's the info copy pasted from the email:

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!!!ANNOUNCING!!!

International Paleontology Illustration Competition
I International Exhibition of  Paleontology Illustration/IPIC 2011
XXII Brazilian Congress of Paleontology
23 - 28 October 2011
Natal, Brazil

International Paleontology Illustration Competition seeks to promote and encourage the creation of Paleontology communication and dissemination models based on 3D or 2D images. It is aimed both at professional and amateur illustrators, capable of creating original illustrations that are both aesthetically appealing and scientifically credible and accurate.
One of the main objectives of the competition is to disseminate the work of paleo-illustrators of recognized merit as well as the work of those that develop a valid work that deserves to be highlighted.  In this way, we aim to encourage, find and support new and potential human values that may in the future become the technicians that will perpetuate the active dissemination of Paleontology Illustration and consolidate the idea that Art and Science are both at the service of Knowledge and Progress.

All illustrations about fauna and flora related to all the mass extinctions for which a fossil record is available and scientifically recognized (from Proterozoic to Pleistocene) could be submitted to this competition.
All accepted artworks (maximum of 3 by author) will be also included in the I International Exhibition of Paleontology Illustration from 23 to 28 October 2011.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE:  artwork must be sent until 3 October 2011.

JURORS:
- Fernando Correia (biologist and scientific illustrator; SIL - University of Aveiro, Portugal)
- Narendra Kumar Srivastava (President of the XXII Brazilian Congress of Paleontology)
- Roberto Iannuzzi (President of the Brazilian Society of Paleontology)
- three other members invited by the President of the XXII Brazilian Congress of Paleontology.


Exhibition Commission & Contacts
Fernando Correia
Scientific Illustration Laboratory/SIL
Biology Department
University of Aveiro (Portugal)
fjorgescorreia@sapo.pt

Ismar Carvalho
Paleontologist
Geology Department
University of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
ismar@geologia.ufrj.br


More information and Identification Form is available at [link] (click over the "Instructions/Rules" button to initiate the pdf document download)

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My other DA Account
Conceptart.org sketchbook:
[link]
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Just out of curiosity:

1) how much do you practice drawing?  (Daily, Few days in the week, just when you feel like it etc)

2) When you draw do you use photographic references? If you don't  then why not?

Ok third extempero question. Is there anything I can help you with drawing wise? Is there any particular subject you would like to see tutorial of? Like drawing scales?

Some of you might be aware that there has been some recent turmoil and internetz drama between me and Nima aka .
It started from simple discussion about dinosaur cheeks and then took a turn apparently when I chose to voice my disapproval of Nima hiding comments of another DA member which he later banned. It has been heated discussion and now it has culminated to him banning me.

Which is fine, I really don't care, although I am a bit peeved that he still uses censorship  to silence the people who disagree with him. I'm not writing this to gather hords of people to  go and tell Nima how wrong he is. This is not what this journal is about so DO NOT SPAM HIM ABOUT BANNING ME. I can not make this clear enough. DO NOT! If you wan't to say something to Nima, post comments to this journal but DO NOT SPAM HES DA ACCOUNT OR HES BLOG OR ANY OTHER WEB PRESENCE HE MIGHT HAVE.

What I want to know is...was I wrong and out of line with my arguments and comments? I did certainly loose my temper on few occasions, there's no denying it. I'm doing this because I actually care about knowing if I was in the wrong and for obvious reason I can not make that judgement for myself.

Use any sort of language you deem neccessary to critique me...just be honest. I will never ever hate or ban you for you honest oppinion and if I was in the wrong you have to tell me so.

You can read the "cheek" thread here (This whole debacle started there: [link]
And second act can be read on Nimas journal here: [link]

Last word to Nima:

I still do not consider you as an enemy, and you will always be welcome to post comments on my DA account, whether it is simple pat in the back or heavy criticism of my work or my actions, I welcome it all.
I'm sorry you considered my advice as quote "totally useless and a misrepresentation of my work. Nothing I haven't heard before"
But I hope you take atleast some of it into consideration.

All the best

Ville

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My other DA Account
Also just started a sketchbook in the Conceptart.org which you can see here:
[link]
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III International contest of scientific illustrations of dinosaurs, 2011

The Foundation for the study of the dinosaurs in Castile and León summons III International contest of scientific illustrations of dinosaurs, 2011
Can participate any person, Spanish or of any nationality, regardless of age.
The main theme are illustrations of dinosaurs. They can depict animals on their natural environment or as original fossilis.
The illustrations can be in color or black and white.
Originals and unpublished (they will be eliminated those which are not) and they will be accompanied with the personal information of the author.
The illustrations should be sent in digital format to any of the following addresses:
info@fundaciondinosaurioscyl.com
museodesalas@salasdelosinfantes.net
The minimum definition for the images will be 300dpi.
The works can be sent February 1st till the 31st of May, 2011.
The works will be selected for their scientific accuracy, quality and the techniques used.

The jury will be:

John Sibbick, Raúl Martín, Carlos Papolio, Mauricio Antón, Mark Hallet, All Paleoilustrators.
José Ignacio Ruiz Omeñaca, Paleontologist from the Jurasic Museum of Asturias.
Fidel Torcida Fernández-Baldor Director of the Museum of Dinosaurs of Salas de los Infantes.
The jury's decision will be made public the 20th of June, 2011 through the Web of the Foundation.

There will be three prizes:
1st Place: 600€ and Diploma
2nd Place: 450€ and Diploma
3rd Place: 300€ and Diploma

The jury may give several awards for especial mention, valued at 50€.
See complete rules and regulations and Dinosaurs of Burgos here:
[link]

Hey hey hey, how is everybody? Hope you had merry holidays.

2010, what a year it was. After much thinking, procrastinating and more thinking I decided to take a breather from my Geology/Paleontology studies and see if I could get a job as a graphic designer or illustrator. Don't get me wrong. I want to be a paleontologist, no doubt about that. It's my dream and it has always been and I will NEVER let that go. But the reality is that there really isn't much job opportunities for paleontologists in Finland, so, being illustrator has always been my plan B.
I just want to test if I'm up to doing this stuff.
During last three months I have been sending plenty of job applications, but so far no luck.
But I'm not giving up. It's not in my nature.

I have also been drawing like crazy, although you might not know it by looking at how little I have uploaded to deviantart. I just counted the pages and it seems that I filled 119 paged sketchbook in 90 days. No wonder my wrist was acting up. Most of it is just studies of humans (Anatomy, poses etc) so you probably won't find it all that interesting, hence I have not been posting that stuff here.

It has been excruciating experience trying to learn to draw humans. Why oh why didn't I draw superheroes or something when I was a teenager, why?! It would be so much easier if I had learned basics then. It has been lots of sweat, blood and tears, but I'm finally getting hang of it...I think. And it has been worth it.  I have learned so much about shading, lighting and colors etc. and it's all thanks to the fact that I decided to finally take up the long due task to learn to draw humans.
It has also been humbling experience. Especially so when I'm  browsing  deviantart and see artists that are younger than me and seem to draw humans with such a great ease and skill. I keep telling myself it's just that I lack practice and I think that it is that very thing that drives me to practice practice and practice some more.  I'm haunted by the fact that I'm not at their level even though I feel like I should. Hehe, it seems that I'm driven by envy. Rather petty isn't it.

So here we are, second day of the year 2011. it's already past 3 am. I'm not sleepy at the slightest. I think it's time to pickup my trusty 0.5 Sakura125 and start to do some drawing. It's business as usual.

May the year 2011 be just plain awesome.

Cheers

-Ville

This was posted to DML and I thought you peeps might be interested.

Oh it's on now! I challenge all of you to do your best!

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Dear friends of Paleo-Art,

As you may know, the Dinosaurier-Park in Münchehagen, Northern Germany
is known for its in situ exhibit of a large number of original
dinosaur trackways. Around this spectacular footprint site, more than
220 life-sized dinosaur models are on display and all available fossil
material of the dwarfed sauropod Europasaurus holgeri is being
prepared at this location as well.

We are currently planning a new exhibit on Europasaurus holgeri and as
an integral part of the exhibit we would like to show a large number
of drawings, reconstructions, and other artwork of Europasaurus
holgeri, which preferably depict this taxon in its natural habitat. To
reach that goal, we are initiating a paleo-art contest.

Prizes:
1st prize: 500 €
2nd prize: 250 €
3rd prize: 100 €
3 honorable mentions: 50 € each


Submission deadline is March 1, 2011.

For more information, including scientific information about
Europasaurus, please refer to our website:
[link]

We are looking forward to your contributions!
With our best regards from Münchehagen, Germany

Oliver Wings & Nils Knötschke

This dude is using fellow paleoartist Manabu Sakamotos work without permission and claiming essentially that these drawings belong to him. That's a big no no..

Heres an example:

Nice Allosaurus drawing from Manabus website
[link]

(If the link doesnt work try going to [link]

Manabus nice drawing in spinoguys DA gallery:
[link]

Wrong move pal. Now, Glendon Mellow aka. has been leading the charge by reporting this platant art theft to DA admins, and by leaving comments to Spinosaurusguys page. And now...well Spinosaurusguy has deleted Glendons comments and blocked Glendon.

Yeah now that's not going to fly is it?

Don't go and cuss him off or leave nasty comments or anything like that. Just report the stolen art to DA admins and if you wan't to leave a comment try to be civil.

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My other DA account

This dude is using the work of fellow paleoartist Manabu Sakamotos work without permission and claiming essentially that these drawings belong to him. That's a big no no..

Heres an example:

Nice Allosaurus drawing from Manabus website
[link]

Manabus nice drawing in spinoguys DA gallery:
[link]

Wrong move pal. Now, Glendon Mellow aka. has been leading the charge by reporting this platant art theft to DA admins, and by leaving comments to Spinosaurusguys page. And now...well Spinosaurusguy has deleted Glendons comments and blocked Glendon.

Yeah now that's not going to fly is it?

Don't go and cuss him off or leave nasty comments or anything like that. Just report the stolen art to DA admins and if you wan't to leave a comment try to be civil.

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My other DA account

Been sketching and doing speedpainting like crazy  to try to learn thing or two about anatomy, colors  and digital painting overall. I think I have learned thing or two and I'm eager to put those few learned tricks to use. Only problem is that I'm overthinking my next painting. The best pieces I have done were done on impulse. Meaning that I have a critter I want to depict and idea how I want it to look and then just do it. When I start to overthink things it all gets muddled...I just can't decide and it's frustrating.

I need some ideas to get the creative juices going. So please, help a guy will ya.

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My other DA account

I draw alot, and not all of it is dinosaurs *GASP*. Therefore I present to you the other DA account



There be random stuff. Humans, cartoonish stuff, creatures etc.
I was originally thinking about putting that, stuff to this account, buuut in the end thought it would be best to keep the scientific illustrations and paleoart here and start new account for all the other stuff.

Commissions? yes? no? maybe? lobster?

So yeah, should I start taking comissions? Is there any peeps among my watchers that would like me to do some art for them in exchange of some moneeeyh?

If there is, let me know and I'll set up some details about pricing etc.


Cheers

Ville

I seriously have not over used this journal thingy have I.

So summer is almost here and Istill haven't been able to get a job which is causing slight stress. In these desperate times I have started to look other options to make some nice green cash. So I was thinking of makings some of my stuff available as prints.

The question is, which ones?

So my dear minions, which ones (if any) of my works would you like to see available as prints?

Proud member of:


(If you like drawing dinosaur and extinct stuff these two groups are place for you!)