Chicagoland anyone?

**Pencil Soldier** · April 18th, 2004, 11:19 PM

Anybody here live in Chicago or around that area?

**Vin** · April 19th, 2004, 06:33 PM

Whas up fellow Chicagoin. There aren't much of us on this board is there?
later..
vin

**strych9ine** · April 20th, 2004, 09:38 AM

I'm in the area... too bad there really aren't enough of us to get something going.

**BadMange** · April 23rd, 2004, 11:14 AM

What's up, I'm in the area as well. I'm busy finishing up my demo reel so my broke-ass can get a job. It'd be cool to meet up with you guys and do a sketchbook session or something sometime. I'll post here again when I'm finished with my reel.

Are you guys in school here or working, or both? What's up Strych9ine, long time no talk. How's Columbia treatin' ya? I'm finally out of the hell-hole ILIC. My school just stole your school's 3d director, Chris Blake. He seems cool, nice guy.

Later,
BadMange

**strych9ine** · April 23rd, 2004, 11:36 AM

Waddap Mange! Columbia is treating me like horseshit actually, mainly the bursar department. I've been screwed around financially, but hopefully I'll be able to attend in Fall to finish up my last year. Fucking college.

Anyway, good luck on the reel, maybe we can get a skecth group going at some point...

**Vin** · April 23rd, 2004, 11:40 AM

I am working. I'm one of those lucky slugs that dropped out of high school, never went to college, but was still able to land a job drawing for a living. I was the first artist to get hired at Midway Games soley as a concept artist. It has been a struggle though cause up until recently the 3d guys have been doing thier own concept work and they don't really like getting the ownership taken away from them. It's weird, but I suppose I understand.
Any of you guys post your work up on this sight? I never have, mostly because I don't have a web sight yet. However if your interested in seeing some of my work check out the concepts I did for my first video game at
http://www.psiopsgame.com/hb/indexFl...dia~conceptart

see ya

**BadMange** · April 23rd, 2004, 12:00 PM

9ine-
Yeah, private schools like ours are always fucking w/ our money. When I transfered to ILIC from the sister school in Denver (AIC), they screwed up my loans and I had to wait another quarter to start. I could've graduated in Jan if they hadn't flerked me over. They only care about money...

Vin-
I checked out your art, very cool! I'll have a website up when I'm done with my reel. I still have a bunch of characters to finish modeling, texturing and animating...

-Bad Mange

**strych9ine** · April 23rd, 2004, 05:12 PM

Mange -
Yeah, it definitely sucks but I'm not stopping until I get my degree, damnit. You going to the Austin Workshop by any chance? If you are, PM me and we'll talk some more about that...

Vin -
Very cool work man. How did you go about breaking into the industry... mainly soliciting and stalking like I plan on doing? I honestly have no idea where to start, it's pretty overwhelming.

**Vin** · April 23rd, 2004, 07:02 PM

Dude, I am totally convinced its not about talent its who you know. I couldn't pay somebody to give me a job when I was out of work, so I was a brick layer until I landed this job. [Before that I was an animator for 5 years, the company went bankrupt] I had a freind who worked here as a motion capture guy. He was and still is an awsome people person [something i have always struggled with]. I gave him a portfolio I went through hell to make and he tried showing it to anybody who would look [I got him a job at the last place we worked so he owed me the favor].
The portfolio ended up gettin set on somebodys desk, then disapearing. This happened five more times [and 3 months later] before I finally got the call. When he did call for the interveiw he said' "oh yeah, and bring a portfolio it was misplaced somewhere". So i did.
I thought I was being hired as a animator cause thats what I did before this and I went in with that in mind. When they told me I was going to be a concept artist I just about jumped out of my skin, what artist doesn't want to do that!

So the short of it is go to E3, go to Siggraph, go anywhere industry guys are hanging and become thier best freind.

If you are a 3d guy and your pretty good, i might even be able to help you.

peace out
vin

**Pencil Soldier** · April 23rd, 2004, 10:20 PM

Well im still a sophmore in highschool. I live in Elgin. It would be fun to get together if more people show up. I haven't been drawing very much at all latley though.

**minotaur** · April 26th, 2004, 05:20 PM

Hey Guys,
You can add me to the list of Chicago folk. I live on the south side by Universtiy of Chicago in Hyde Park.

I've just posted my first piece up in the finished section. So Yay! I'm finally participating.

Phil

**BadMange** · April 26th, 2004, 06:53 PM

Vin- I'll send you a link to my site when my reel is done (site isn't live yet). I appreciate your offer of help (provided my reel is good), plus any critique you could offer.

My school is having a demo reel mailing day on May 7th, so my deadline to finish is one week from Wed so I have a day to transfer it to tape. Hope we can all meet up soon after that!

Anyone have any locations they feel are good for sketching? I've always wanted to sketch the library, but the L platform is really the only place to do it from, and there's a LOT of pigeon poo on the bldg. Besides that, it has some kick ass architecture.

-Bad Mange

**Pencil Soldier** · April 27th, 2004, 08:07 AM

I don't know. I haven't been in Chicago all that much, so im not very familiar with it.

**Vin** · April 27th, 2004, 11:18 AM

In the summer it's always nice to just ride down town and sit on michigan ave and quick sketch. Sit close to a corner and speed sketch people waiting to cross the street, what a work out! Evey once in a while somebodies vanity will get the better of them and they will ask you to draw them. Keep the sketch unless they offer you money, it's ok to be a .
A great figure drawing workshop is in a loft on Wabansia 3 blks north of North ave. in Wicker Park/Buck town. It gathers 10am Sunday morning and its 10$ for three hours. They get great nude models that know how to lay down a pose, it is rare that they get amatures. I forget the exact address because I haven't been there in a while [look it up in the phone book or get a flyer from one of the local art supply stores, Pearl, Art store, Genisis ect. its called THE DRAWING WORKSHOP.]. I have been to a lot of workshops and this one by far is the best.
I believe speed sketching is the best way to advance your figure drwing skill.
Architecture I'll usually get ref from books the web or what ever....my head. Perspective is a pain though and I usually end up winging it...If you feel real adventurous its also cool to break into an abondon tall building and sketch from an upper floor. This is very dangerous though, no joke, bring a friend, and a gun if you got one....
later

**Pencil Soldier** · April 27th, 2004, 11:59 AM

I don't know what their policy regarding age limits on the nude models, but mabye over the summer we could get together and go around through Chicago, with our final destination being the Drawing Workshop. But im only 16, adn although Im mature enough to draw nude models I know alot of places have age limits.

**BadMange** · April 27th, 2004, 12:01 PM

What is the Drawing Workshop? Got a weblink?

**Vin** · April 27th, 2004, 12:03 PM

You go there with a pad and some pencils and a 10 spot in your hand you'll be drawing....the owners name is George, give him a call and ask if your a bit freaked...

**Vin** · April 27th, 2004, 12:06 PM

Heres the address and phone number,
1735 North Paulina Street, Suite 114, Chicago, IL 60622
773 772-2550
They have classes too...

**strych9ine** · April 29th, 2004, 04:53 PM

Pencil Soldier, all you need to not do is threateningly stare at / drool on / hump the model and you'll be fine. It's an important excercise, drawing nudes, and doing it at your age will be a huge plus to you. Get that drive and passion for art now...

Vin, thanks for biz explanation. I definitely need to make some contacts that's for sure. Minotaur posted a link to www.paletteandchisel.org which holds figure drawing sessions as well. I'm going to hit the 1:30 class this Saturday I'm pretty sure, so I hope to see some of you there.

**Vin** · April 29th, 2004, 05:02 PM

I had a bad experience at Palett & chizel [in the shizzle, i couldnt resist]. Had a really over wieght model, which i don't mind, i kind of like all the curves, however this particular one couldn't hold a pose to save her life. Then once she finally did she fell asleep. We packed up all our stuff after session and left with her still sleeping on the plat form.
Other artists I know [my dad included] stand by P& C though. If you become a member you get all kinds of discounts and they have an awsome 3 day figure drawing marathon [72 hours straight] around New Years. Oh, and the other plus of P & C is that you can drink while you work. However I am sure they frown apon getting saused during a session.

**minotaur** · April 29th, 2004, 05:13 PM

Ha ha! Vin, that's awesome. I think no matter where you go you're going to run into something like this eventually. Every once in awhile there are hiccups at P&C, like a model doesn't show, etc, but its rare and they work hard to keep it from happening.

strych9ine- Its cool that you're going to be able to go Saturday. I, sadly, am not going to make it. I'm working on a comic right now and I have to finish it this weekend. I'll be there Monday night though!

**strych9ine** · April 29th, 2004, 05:31 PM

vin- That's funny as hell... I had the opposite happen to me at Columbia College during a figure drawing class. I had a paper thin model once in a standing position who kept moving in a rocking motion with her eyes half closed. I go to grab my chalk and as I turn around she is on a one way flight directly to the floor, face first. It's a sobering experience to see this naked anorexic chick smash her face into the tiles and not wake up for a couple more minutes. A little funny, too.

minotaur- Ah well, I'm sure I'll catch you around there. I'll be the other young guy with the spiky hair. Saturdays - Mondays will probably be the times I will show up... thanks again for reminding me about this place.

**MisterE** · May 25th, 2004, 03:28 PM

Hello Chicago people, just wanted to say hello.

Pencil Soldier, I recently read an article about a life drawing group in Elgin, "The Division Street Drawing Group" or something like that. I have been meaning to find out more about it but haven't had much time latley. I will scan the article if you are interested.

**stalagthirteen** · June 14th, 2004, 12:32 AM

hi all this is one of my favorite places to surf while i am at work. very inspiring! i live by ohare airport!

I was going to ask some of you in school--how do you like the school you are at (Columbia and the like)? And on the downside the things you dislike?

**pvrhye** · July 6th, 2004, 01:56 AM

Crown Point IN

**Denart** · July 20th, 2004, 03:49 PM

heyy wassup fellow Chi town artists!

I live in Bloomingdale (suburbs....), pretty close to you Pencil Soldier! :shocked:

**HandsomeMonkeyKing** · August 30th, 2004, 06:23 PM

Hey Chicago artists - I been lurking on this site for ages - just wanted to say hello and give props to all you hardworking drawing types. Anyone here going to this P&C all-day drawing sesh? I think its all day on Labor Day. Seems like a pretty cool way to spend a day off. Anyway if anyones there maybe I'll see ya - I'm the little Scottish guy.

Cheers

**BadMange** · August 31st, 2004, 08:57 AM

I was thinking of checking out P&C, but life events have dictated that I move out of the city and into the 'burbs (Lisle). Oh well, I'm sure someone can hip me to a place near me that has life drawing sessions.

To answer the question about schools, do NOT go to either of the Art Institutes Int'l schools (Chicago or Schaumburg). They will rape your pocketbook and leave you wishing you had gone to a better school. My school is called Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago (not to be confused with the School of the Art Institute, which coincides with the museum), and you'll be $50K in the hole and a sub-par education. I truly learned more by visiting boards like this one (but for animation) and asking a LOT of questions. Hell, I could've been self-taught, know more, and still have several $K in the pocket.

You suck, Art Institutes!

**FugaziDave** · September 24th, 2004, 03:44 AM

Just found this thread. You can add me to the list of Chicago people. Been here for about 6 months, I figure I'll be here about that much longer. I mostly do photography, but I'm trying to get back into drawing again so my concept sketches look slightly less like ass (if nothing else). But yeah....if people want to try to get together here in Chicago, I'd be up for something.