The Rez

END PIRACY NOT LIBERTY

2012-01-17T22:25:00.004-08:00

The year is 2012, yet there are those out there that are living in the dark ages.

TAKE ACTION!

SIGN THE PETITION.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

2011 Recap

2011-12-30T23:17:00.000-08:00

A year of progress!

ART TOYS

2011 has been a fantastic year! My collaboration with Toy2R in the Skelanimals Qee Artist Series 2, marked my first ever production toy. A big step forward with the release of this custom toy, Letterman The Hound. This was also the catalyst for my frequent participation in local comic conventions, and art markets throughout the year. Met a bunch of great artists, who have become my table mates at various cons.

I have some new stuff coming up in the new year. I'm planning to do several more Vancouver Comic Cons. Stay tuned, stay safe, and thank you for your support. https://plus.google.com/b/106042054698715164922/

ANDROID

I decided to replace my old gen 1 iPhone with a Nexus S, the Google Samsung collaboration phone. So far it's been a great phone, doing everything that I need it to. The camera takes very nice pics, and Little Photo is my fave photo app. Check out my random pics on http://twitpic.com/photos/albertart

GOOGLE+

Google+ was an unexpected new social networking tool that I have been using quite heavily since it was in beta. The tool has some pretty nifty features that make the experience a bit like Twitter, and a bit like blogger, but very different from Facebook. I plan on using the Hangout feature in the new year! https://plus.google.com/b/106042054698715164922/

I HEART TEXAS.

This year I attended SXSW in Austin, TX. The music, film and interactive festival was a very cool experience for networking, learning, and film reviewing. I along with @debuggirl wrote quite a bit of coverage for our friends at http://HeyUGuys.co.uk

I also made a second trip to Texas for Thanksgiving in November. The Lone Star state is definitely growing on me.

PAX PRIME

This year at PAX Prime 2011, was a little different. Though I didn't spend the entire weekend in the convention, I spent a bunch of time hanging out with Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown inside of Gameworks. I'm looking forward to this game in the summer of 2012. I really enjoyed the arcade atmosphere, and hanging out with fellow VF fanatics.

GAMING

ARKHAM CITY, DEUS EX HR, BATTLEFIELD 3 and SWTOR. Nuff said.

KINECT

I just purchased a KINECT shortly after xmas, and I must say it has proven to be a great way to get young members and grownups in my family active, without having to worry about recharging wireless remotes, and dealing with the hassle of floor pad controllers like a wii balance boards. The house Wii will definitely be collecting dust looking into the new year.

iPAD

I won an iPad at work during a raffle. I beat out over 300 people. I guess I'm pretty lucky! We'll see how 2012 plays out! It's actually quite useful!

NEW FILMS

I have a new short film coming soon! TOP SECRET. For now!

So Long 2011, hello 2012.

Chad Howse Fitness Promo OCT 2011

2011-10-20T23:08:00.001-07:00

Chad Howse Fitness 'Be Legendary'

Finished a new promotional video for Chad Howse Fitness. This is my second spot for the local fitness business. If you're a meathead gym rat this should be for you! More IRON, MORE EPIC.

Our second collaboration with Chad Howse Fitness, 'Be Legendary.'

Filmed in Vancouver, BC CANADA

Directed + Produced

Albert Art Creative http://albertart.net

Client

Chad Howse Fitness http://chadhowsefitness.com

Music used with permission

Zack Hemsy - Mind Heist - Evolution
http://music.zackhemsey.com/track/mind-heist

EVENT VCON WEEKEND SEPT OCT 2011

2011-09-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

Continuing my mini-tour of local events....

VCON, the three-day science fiction and fantasy convention is going down this weekend, at the SHERATON VANCOUVER AIRPORT HOTEL!

I will be in the artist alley with Letterman the Hound, Homeless Quatchi, and with more art prints. Feel free to stop on by. Should be a fun pre-Halloween event, with lots of costumes, and cosplay for the whole family.

VCON is the first three-day con that I'll be attending, so I will try my best to keep the energy up. The last few months have been great. Having been at several Vancouver Comicons, SummerFest, and Minicomi. Been very busy, but great meeting people interested in my art.

Thanks for all the support!

Check out the events, artists, and vendors in attendance at VCON

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Albert-Art/45649548740

Sombreros Letterman Samba Homeless Quatchi Vancouver

2011-09-11T00:41:00.003-07:00

SOMBRERO!

Another Vancouver Comic-Con is this Sunday Sept.11 at Heritage Hall. I will be there, with more Letterman the Hound toys, as well as these custom toys, my latest Samba De Amigo, and fan favorite Homeless Quatchi.

See ya there!

http://www.vancouvercomiccon.com/

Albert Art Samba De Amigo Custom MadL Dreamcast Anniversary Sept 9 2011

2011-09-09T01:11:00.001-07:00

HAPPY SEGA DREAMCAST ANNIVERSARY 2011

The Dreamcast may be a long dead game console of the past, but it will never be forgotten. And although a little over a decade has passed, since the last SEGA game console launched on the market in 9.9.99, many fans including myself continue to reminisce and celebrate SEGA's final console.

And you have to understand, I was in high school at the time of the Dreamcast. An eager kid who soaked up gaming like a sponge. I wanted to be an artist after high school, and while most kids (would-be artists) were watching anime, and reading comics in their spare time as their way of absorbing art, I was playing videogames, and was exposed to many SEGA titles that inspired me in their design, and art style.

Though, before there was a Dreamcast in the house, my brother had a SEGA Saturn. Games like Panzer Dragoon, NiGHTS, Virtua Fighter, Guardian Heroes, and Astal opened my eyes, to the creative side of games out there.

The Dreamcast, was a big influence on me wanting to become an artist. If the SEGA Saturn was the gateway drug, the Dreamcast would be the hard stuff.

For me the Dreamcast started out strong, which got better over time, before SEGA decided to pull the plug. Jet Set Radio, Crazy Taxi, Q3A, Power Stone, Virtual On, Virtua Fighter 3TB, Soul Calibur, Chu Chu Rocket, Sea Man, Shenmue, Phantasy Star Online, Skies of Arcadia to name a few. I spent hours with the wide variety of games, some more than others, Quickly the games collection grew. Including a collection of Dreamcast magazines.

I became hooked to the bizarre Seaman creature featuring narration by Leonard Nimoy. I trained hard with Virtua Fighter 3, racked up the score in Crazy Taxi, became immersed in the world of PSO, and Skies of Arcadia. I played Unreal Tournament and Quake III Arena with the DC mouse and keyboard, and even the Twin Sticks for Virtual On: OT. Jet Set Radio blew my mind with the urban art, and animation. Shenmue showed me the beginnings of a martial arts, sandbox epic. My gaming life revolved around the Dreamcast, and only the Dreamcast.

And you can't talk about the Dreamcast without talking about Rez, the epileptic, music driven rail-shooter game, which will forever be one of my all-time favourites. The flashing lights, and sci-fi theme was the epitome of SEGA's push to create unique gaming experiences.

And then there was Samba De Amigo...

This year, I'm doing things a little differently to celebrate the Dreamcast Day.

With a custom toy SEGA wishes they had made. ALBERT ART CUSTOM MAD*L SEGA DREAMCAST ANNIVERSARY TOY - 'SAMBA DE AMIGO,' stands 10inches tall without the hat, and took several weeks to paint. The toy I got earlier in the year from http://www.madtoydesign.com/. I waited months just to tie in the toy with the 2011 Dreamcast Anniversary. I'm so glad I have a chance to show it to all the Dreamcast fans.

This is a hand-painted, one of a kind piece of art that captures the mascot of Samba De Amigo. A game that was pre-Rock Band, pre-Wii, pre-Kinect, which utilized it's own unique peripheral SEGA Dreamcast MARACAS.

SAMBA DE AMIGO would be my 6th videogame theme custom vinyl toy, following Bonk, Bomberman, Megaman, M. Bison, and Ness. I do take commissions, so if you have a design in mind, just shoot me a message on http://www.facebook.com/pages/Albert-Art/45649548740 or http://albertart.net

And so, the sun sets on the Dreamcast, to some it was a failure, to others it was the best thing ever, but the games and gaming memories will live on.

Thanks for the memories Dreamcast.

AS SEEN ON:

2011-09-01T20:59:00.002-07:00

PAX 2011 Trinity Nightclub Alienware Chun-li

Alienware at PAX.

Alienware, the people who make graphically intense computer rigs, threw a party at PAX 2011, at the Trinity Nightclub in Seattle on Saturday night. Aside from the projected Alienware logo on the wall, there wasn't anything remotely related to the Alienware brand.

The atmosphere was just like any other dance club. Add to the mix free admission for those who were on the guest list, PAX clubbers were treated to some good tunes, Go-Go dancing, and fun.

Chun-Li even made an appearance, wearing much less than usual. Was the videogame-themed Go-Go Dancer a happy accident? Her dance moves were exceptional.

2011-08-30T19:45:00.000-07:00

PAX 2011 Ubisoft Soar Like an Assassin

Photo Booths are awesome. Photo Booth Fun.

Especially when people get creative with the scenario. Ubisoft had a 'Soar Like an Assassin at PAX' theme going on, and recently uploaded all the pictures into several galleries on Facebook. The poses, and comments are pretty effin hilarious, and informative because apparently I look like http://thekassemg.com/ which is news to me!

Are you in any of the pictures?

http://www.facebook.com/assassinscreed

2011-08-29T23:19:00.001-07:00

Vancouver Comix and Stories 2011 Albert Art

Comix & Stories 2011 Vancouver Con.

The annual Comix & Stories artist market went down over the weekend. The single day event, organized by the same people who do Vancouver Comicon, has a bigger artist alley, and less vendors.

Driving back from Seattle on Saturday night from PAX, in time to make it for Sunday's art event, required that I leave PAX a day before it was actually over. I was pretty tired from all the partying, but glad I didn't cancel my table.

Though the turnout was quite slow, compared to other cons, I did meet new fans, and sold a few more Letterman Skelanimals Qees! I also debuted my mini-comic strip!

THANKS TO ALL WHO SHOWED UP! SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO BOUGHT SOMETHING!

2011-08-29T22:11:00.001-07:00

PAX 2011 Pics with PAX friends

PAX PEOPLES

One of the things that I look forward to most, is meeting up with friends who I haven't seen in a while. There are the usual characters the I see every year at PAX, and then there are those who make it out to PAX every few years. And then there are those who I randomly run into, like an old classmate of mine, who I haven't seen in over 7 years.

This year was filled with many familiar faces, and a few new ones which makes PAX 2011 my favorite PAX yet.

People that I met when I first started going to PAX in 2005, have all grown up and matured. Kinda strange, but true! Time flies, indeed. Sharing a drink with friends once a year made me realize that social gatherings like this should happen more than just once a year. Getting all these people together in one place though is hard, glad they showed up to PAX!

You know you're old when, more and more gamers use PAX as a backdrop for a marriage proposal.

2011-08-29T21:06:00.000-07:00

PAX 2011 SWAG BAG

Stuffs

I didn't get too much stuff this year at the Penny Arcade Expo, mostly because I only had a Saturday Pass, I also didn't want to wait in long lines in the exhibit hall, and well, I was too busy socializing or playing Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown. The good thing is though, I wasn't hauling a too much stuff around, and rather than getting a whole buncha swag crap, I think I got some good quality stuff.

My favorites include, the assorted SEGA stuff, T-shirts, postcards and lanyards. Maybe I'll ebay some of this stuff.

2011-08-29T12:11:00.010-07:00

PAX 2011 Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown

SEGA at PAX

"VFer Looking to Challenge other VFers." If I put up a classified ad during PAX, it'd probably sound a little something like that.

SEGA gave gamers a chance to play the latest in the popular fighting game series during the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle (Aug.26-28), and though Virtua Fighter may not be as big in North America, as it is in the Japan, the fans are just as enthusiastic.

When I caught the news on the SEGA BLOG that two arcade machines, were being brought in from Japan, and were playable (free) during the entire PAX weekend at Gameworks, I admit I was ecstatic.

In fact, everything else at the expo took a back seat to Virtua Fighter 5: Final Showdown, which required no PAX badge to play. I was itching to get to Seattle so I could get some rounds in, and to see what sort of competition would show up. Were there any Virtua Fighter fans out there PAX? And like a blinding kick to the face, I soon discovered there were.

Not since 2008, during a trip to Tokyo for TSG, have I played head-to-head Virtua Fighter 5 against an opponent in the same room. Online gaming on the XBOX 360 just isn't the same, and the Penny Arcade Expo isn't really known for being much of a Virtua Fighter scene. It still isn't, but SEGA brought something special this year, with an event outside the convention centre.

Situated in the main floor of the arcade, the machines were easy to miss if it wasn't for a few banners, and models. (There were two other Virtua Fighter 5 non-Final Showdown machines on the second level of Gameworks, but they were not free)

I stopped by on the Friday afternoon, and as expected there wasn't a big crowd around the machines, except for a few hardcore members of the VirtuaFighter.com forums. Most people travelled from other cities just for this game. Saturday night however was the opposite, being it was the SEGA party at Gameworks, VF5FS was a main attraction.

As usual with all versions of Virtua Fighter, things change, enough to take notice. VF5FS has changed quite a bit in terms of command input, dodging, throws, and general tuning. I personally find it frustrating when my favorite critical moves and combos have been shuffled around. VF5FS feels like a new game, refreshing for veterans, and more approachable for newbs interested in getting into it. That's not to say the game has been dumbed down for newer players. VF5FS is still quite complex, which makes it all the more satisfying when you learn how to play it.

Though, the best part of about going to PAX is the people, and in this case, it was the other Virtua Fighter fans. I really enjoyed the arcade vibe. Some of the really high-level players were nice enough to offer up some tips, and advice, and for the weekend it was like Seattle had an actual VF scene, if only for PAX. (Shouts to Chanchai!)

I honestly cannot wait for this game to hit the arcades officially in NA, as well on the home console in Summer 2012. It will be interesting to see how this game is marketed, as well as the reaction it will receive. Will Virtua Fighter finally catch on in NA? Even if it doesn't but remains as a game for specific fighting gamers, I'd still be very pleased to play it.

THANK YOU SEGA FOR MAKING PAX AWESOME!

Check out the Live-stream from the event and some pics!

Watch live video from IPLAYWINNER on Justin.tv

2011-08-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

SIGGRAPH 2011 RECAP HeyUGuys

SIGGRAPH 2011 VANCOUVER!!!!

I had a chance to cover SIGGRAPH 2011 for HeyUGuys.co.uk. Being that this was the first time that the major computer graphics conference was held in Vancouver, I jumped at the opportunity.

Read the recap: http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2011/08/18/siggraph-2011-vancouver-recap/

2011-08-14T19:44:00.001-07:00

Tenacious Toys Albert Art Skelanimals Qee

NOW AVAILABLE ON TENACIOUS TOYS

I'm very happy to announce that my Skelanimals Qee Letterman The Hound is NOW AVAILABLE online at Tenacious Toys, OPEN BOX! Meaning that you know what you're getting, as opposed to the blind box! The online store is taking orders now, and for a modest price you can own a piece of my work, from the Artist Series Two Skelanimals Qee collaboration. Letterman The Hound, continues to spread across the world! Be sure to grab one!

This is my first ever mass production vinyl toy, produced by Toy2R. I'm the only Canadian artist in the series, so I'm very happy that I can share my work.

Visit Tenacious Toys to purchase one.

Also be sure to submit pictures of your new toy on the fan page. Letterman has a long running series of photos taken by fans!

2011-08-14T18:55:00.001-07:00

COMIX and STORIES Vancouver Comic Con August

I may not be on the poster this time around, but rest assured, I'll be there! Toys in hand!

Cutting my PAX trip short later this month, to make this con where I'll have a table! -- COMIX & STORIES: AUGUST 28TH

Yes, more LETTERMAN THE HOUND and HOMELESS QUATCHI! Come on by, and visit these artists!

2011-08-05T23:20:00.004-07:00

Uglyworld #1219 - Signer Waverers (Project BIG 217-365), a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

This latest picture from Adventures In Uglyworld, features Letterman with some hilarious signage! I nearly choked on my morning tea, when I clicked the link to this picture taken by Bazpics this morning.

It's great to see what owners of Letterman have been doing with their photography. So many great pictures from their adventures.

It's pictures like this, and the response it gets, that makes designing toys totally worth it!

Uglyworld #1219 - Signer Waverers (Project BIG 217-365)

Via Flickr:
Project B.I.G. - Image 217/365

This mornings after Baz had gone offs to workies I hads a brainwaver with how to helps Wage (and Rolf) out with gettings loads of voters in the compermatition that they is entereds into!

When we goes away for our daytrippers I always sees people standerings on the corners of busy intermasections wavering signers, the signers coulds be for local superdupermarkets, new housers, or sometimes completely randomer thingies.

I askered Letterman what he thinkered of my ideas and he tellered me it was a gooders one, so we makereds up our signers and then walkered along to a localler busy intermasection to gets those voters flyings in for Wage.

After abouts ten minuters I was wonderings why peoples kept honkering their car horns, and then I lookers at the signer that Letterman had makered, I don't thinkers he quite undermastood what I meants to write on the signers, but we is having great funners anyway so is all goods!

If you wants to voters for Wage, you can followers the linker below to takes you right to the compermatition pager:-

Voters here - www.g-technology.eu/competition/961

From the Uglydoll blog at blog.adventuresinuglyworld.com

2011-07-31T01:28:00.005-07:00

Letterman - Help!, a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Stopping in his tracks wasn't exactly the right move in this case....forget wet feet, he's up to his waist now!

2011-07-31T01:28:00.004-07:00

Letterman - What Is It Now?, a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
He didn't seem too impressed with getting wet feet, so when I said "oh oh" he stopped in his tracks wondering what I was saying...

2011-07-31T01:26:00.002-07:00

Letterman - Incoming!, a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Too late...!!!

2011-07-31T01:25:00.005-07:00

Letterman Finds A Shell, a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
After he jumped down from the rocks he discovered a razor shell.

2011-07-31T01:25:00.004-07:00

Letterman Realises The Tide Is Coming In, a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

After picking up a load of driftwood Letterman realised that the tide was coming in, FAST!

2011-07-31T01:22:00.005-07:00

Letterman Exploring The Rocks at Ocean Shores, a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Letterman decided to go off and explore the rocks that line the beach at Ocean Shores.

2011-07-31T01:22:00.004-07:00

Letterman Collecting Driftwood, a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Next up it was time to collect some of the driftwood that lay around the beach.

2011-07-24T20:03:00.002-07:00

Uglyworld #1196 - Craters Laker (Project BIG 204 - 365), a photo by www.bazpics.com on Flickr.

Letterman and Friends at Crater Lake in Oregon! Amazing views! Amazing friends!

Via Flickr:
Project B.I.G. - Image 204/365

My planner for Saturday workied out perfectlies as my idea of wheres we could go got a thumbers up from Baz, I didn't even needs to convincer him with the Jellybeaners I buyed.

I was a littles bit shockered on Fridays afternoon when Baz went to beds around 8pm, as I thoughts to myselfer that he wasn't feelering wells and that our plan coulds be scupperered, but it turnered outs that he likered my plans so much that he decidered to makes it a completer day out.

We lefts our hotels before midnights on Fridays and didn't arrivers back until arounds 4am on Sundays, crazies long day even by the crazies standard of Baz. The gooders thing was that because Baz got some early sleepies he was widers awake to drives down which meaned me, Cinko and Letterman could shuts our eyes for the long driver down.

I could writers a novel abouts my day out, but rights now I am still findering myself thinking abouts standering rights on the edger of the crater of the volcanoes for this photomagraph with my two gooders friendlies, it has intermafered with my normals thought processor. Whats a place, stunnering, beautimaful, the perfects place to spends our Saturdays this weekender!

Now I just needs to thinks where we can goes to visits next, and shares my hugers bag of Jellybeaners with Cinko and Letterman as we makers up our masterplans.

From the Uglydoll blog at adventuresinuglyworld.blogspot.com/

2011-07-24T19:39:00.001-07:00

MiniComi Art Market UBC Summer July 2011

MINICOMI!

The first annual MiniComi Art Market took place at the UBC Student Union Ballroom on Saturday July 23. The event which celebrates arts, crafts, Japanese animation, manga and cosplay culture was another stop on my mini-tour of local conventions.

Taking place the weekend after the outdoor Summer Festival at SFU, MiniComi Art Market was definitely a welcome change of location. The weather happened to be quite warm, and sunny at the UBC campus, but all the action was taking place indoors at the SUB Ballroom. Unlike SFU Summer Festival, there were no costume contests, no singing contests, games, or live music during the event, but there was enough going on at each artist table to keep people entertained. (There was a band called Final aNiX which played after the Art Market, but we didn't stay for the show.)

I had some new prints available at the show, with Letterman Skelanimals Qee on sale, and Homeless Quatchi keeping me company. I split a table with fellow artist Zephos, who was a first timer doing any convention. He ended up selling quite a bit of his work early on, which was a great way to start the day.

A lucky winner took home a Letterman Skelanimals Qee from the ongoing raffle!

Here are a few images from the event!

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