New Beginnings...

I haven't typed anything on this page for so long, I doubt anyone is still out there. Here goes all the same. 
I recently got myself a new job. Best news ever. 
For the past 2 years I have been working alongside my partner in a place that can only be described as the lower recesses of hell. Yet, for some strange reason, as much as I am saying to everyone "Oh I cannot wait to get started in my new job and get out of here" there is a part of me that is going to be very sad in 2 days. 
I got this job because my last employment wasn't working out at all and I was left with nothing. I asked my better half if there were any jobs going at the place she was working. Having worked there before and known some of the folks there I was quite happy to go there for a wee while until I found something new. A couple of weeks later, I did just that. It's been 2 years now and here I am. Bit more than a stopgap ay? 
I started working (I am sorry I'm not saying the name by the way. I don't want to get anyone, or myself, into bother) and just slipped right into the routine. I had previously been there many a year ago when I was at college, so I sort of knew the job as well. It was just very "Keep your head down, have a small bit of banter and get on with it" for some time. But something strange happened. I started to enjoy it. I don't know if it was because I had been in something so radically different, than what I was used to, before and now the smell of familiarity was spurring me on or the fact that I was just keeping myself busy for a change? All I know is that regardless of it being slightly monotonous and severely boring, I was happy.
I can never think of actual specific moments, I just know that one big thing that helped in getting by in that place was the people. I think that a sense of all of us being equally lost, miserable and under paid, kind of brought us together. 
Despite all of my complaining about the place, I don't think I could imagine the past 2 years anywhere else. If things ever got bad in the real world, I found myself turning to the people that I worked with for support or cheering up and many of them were there to give it. Every time. Without a doubt. Regardless of how much some folks pissed me off or my other half and I had a good moan about things, somehow, it was made all the better by having this band of misfits around. All brought together by the same shitty place of work. 
You know what as well, it's genuinely been sad to say goodbye to some of the folks that left in the time I've been there as well. I have seen the ones I wanted to after they left of course. There is a certain hole where some of those other ones used to be though. 
I'm sitting here with only 2 more days to go and although I am mega excited to move on and make a hell of a go at my next venture in life, I'm sad. I'm not as sad about leaving, just more that I have to close a massively important chapter in my life and start a new. The blank page is a very scary prospect.
We have been so much over this past 2 years and came out the other side fighting and smiling. I have learned so much about myself and feel that I have honed my life skills so much more for having been there. My tastes have changed, my outlook to life has changed, my entire perspective on near enough everything has changed radically and all because I have been in this place.

There have been great nights out, arguments, unforgettable moments, plenty of extremely forgettable moments and a hell of a lot of laughs. 
It's been hard, it's been easy, it's been fun, it's been aggravating, beautiful, crazy, manic, depressing, hilarious, inspiring, tear jerking, but above all life changing.
I have met some of the best people I will come across in my lifetime in one of the worst places to ever work in our lifetime. 

I can't thank everyone enough for making the past 2 years worth it. They all know who they are, what they did and how much they mean to me. (If they ever read this)
From the bottom of my heart... Thank you. 


Also, get it up ye! 

The Turner Effect

 (Copyright© Frank Turner/XtraMile Records/YouTube)

This fine piece is an amazing little documentary on Frank Turner. A nice well paced 15 minute or so video that gives you a little insight into a man that myself and many others look up to.

To me, Frank Turner is up there with the greats: Springsteen, The Beatles, Dylan, Cash, Bowie, The Who. He may not be that for a lot of other people, but in my heart and, I know, in a hell of a lot of others he is.

Frank Turner is the ultimate game changer. He may not change the face of music itself or even tread ground that hasn’t already been stepped all over. But he writes songs that are incredible in the way they make you sit back and just listen. Nothing else. No focus on "what's for dinner tonight?" or "Oh that's a nice tree I just passed" Just you and his music. He has this grasp on people and music that just totally blows everything else out of the way and lets you just find yourself completely immersed in his music.

I have been following a nice little blog on Tumblr that is all about Frank called "Dear Frank Turner" Some of the things that you find on here are incredible. Not only is it a fan site, but it's also a gateway to finding out how much one person's music can alter the lives of many. Helping various people to find themselves, get out of tough situations or just show a genuine love for the music. This blog is there for the ultimate Frank fan.

Recently Mr. Turner released a New Album entitled "Tape Deck Heart" 

From this he has so far released two singles: "Recovery" and "The Way I Tend To Be"  

Thank You for the music Frank and here's to more in the future!

Ascension Back To Greatness

I may be a bit late to the parade here - namingly because the follow up album "Descension" is on it's way this year - but nonetheless, better late than never. 

Coheed and Cambria made a blasting comeback after their dismal last attempt "Year of the Black Rainbow" and what a stellar comeback it was. After complications and splits from previous members, new members and just a general rough go of it, the band sorted themselves out, put all their troubles aside, re-united themselves with the ever so (single kick drum) talented drummer Josh Eppard, got themselves a brand new bassist in the form of Zach Cooper and made the incredible and slightly reminiscent album "The Afterman: Ascension". 

This album is very nostalgic in the way that it brings forward the old Coheed that we know and love with tracks such as "Key Entity Extraction" being in four different parts to show that there is a strong story like previous projects, which is very much favoured by frontman Claudio Sanchez. 

Their debut release was "Key Entity Extraction I: Domino the Destitute", a song which just encaptures everything that we know and love about this band. If you are a massive fan of Coheed, you will know exactly what I'm on about. If not, it's the heart and soul of having a story told to you in the sheer epicness of prog-rock/metal. These guys take a genre that is very hard to find new talent in and just completely reinvent it. Whenever you hear Claudio's high octane vocals or both he and Travis Stever's guitars shredding away over a smooth bass line and a fucktastic/rocking drum beat, you know the real shit is going down! But with these guys, from the most hard rocking song, to the most mellow elegantly sang song, you get a real sense that something is really going on in these songs/albums and find yourself engrossed in the story and music.

This album is what we have come to expect from Coheed but gives them a whole new lease of life. These guys have just gone to show us that they are nowhere near being done for the day. The stories may be different but the music continues to enlighten us from a completely different spectrum. 

I for one cannot wait for the follow up to this. Until then, I am more than tied over with this incredible spectacle.

Happy Birthday Mr Caine! (and Jamie Bell)

Today is a very special day indeed. Here at uramyx, I would like to say a very big Happy Birthday to a true London Gangster, Gotham City's only butler and the best Scrooge there ever was... 

Sir Michael Caine.

Mr Caine is 79 today can you believe it? This man has done so much that it is hard to know where to begin. His excellent contributions to cinema are so great that it is hard to pick just one. These are some of my personal favourites.

In other news it is also young Jamie Bell's birthday today. Being a fan of such pictures as Undertow, Chumscrubber and Dear Wendy (except the end) I thought it only fitting to take the time to appreciate him also for being born.

Toying around *Interview with The Other Guy*

If you all can remember a wee while back now, I did a feature on an amazing artist. His vinyl toys are something to be utterly marveled at. Well, I got the chance to catch up with this artist and all round great guy, The Other Guy (Trevor Gusikoski). On the 15th of October he will be holding his second art show at Unreal City in Saskatoon Canada.  This was what we babbled about.

Hey Trevor! How are you?

How am i? tired, always! Haha trying to get as much done for the art show as i can (paintings, prints, toys...,) in the middle of moving to a new place, so, life is keeping me busy that's for sure.

That sounds familiar... well, except the art show part. For all of those that may not know your work or a lot about you. Tell us a bit about yourself. 

I'm the quiet guy from up north in Saskatoon (Canada, for those who don't know Haha) who never says much, but I'm always paying attention to whats going on what people are doing around me.
I've always loved drawing and airbrushing for as long as i can remember, then when i got older i discovered what DIY vinyl toys are....and never looked back, vinyl toys are what i truly love to paint!

What kind of things do you take influence from (mainly) when your designing something? 

Pretty much all my influence comes from video games and cartoons (childhood favorites) sometimes movies and lately I've got a lot of inspiration from other artists, no copying them, but seeing what they do and then pushing myself a little further. Also, and probably the biggest influence is from Halloween...not the movie, the holiday. It's like if i can paint a character as it is, or as a vampire, or mummy or ghost i am going to do it as something different that has more of a Halloween feel to it. You can probably tell from all of the shirts i have made, all monsters of some sort haha

 So has your love for monsters and ghouls stemmed from horror/Halloween themed films growing up? Or just a general all round love for all things spooky and a little bit cooky? 

I can't say its from enjoying them growing up...because when i was younger any type of horror movie scared me Haha but now, i love horror movies of all kinds, monster, slasher, gore, all of them. And anything that's spooky, creepy, "cooky" in any form, definitely catches my eye.

Haha! I was like that when I was younger as well.
So, you have your new art show coming up. What kind of things are people to expect from it? 

Lots and lots of new Munnys! I even got to do a 18" Mega Munny for this show too. Some limited edition prints (i think i might make only 10 of each) i am also trying to make a new t-shirt to release at the show as well! It is going to be better than my first show that's for sure.

Awesome shit man! What made you want to start personalising your own Munnys? Was it just general curiosity of the different ways you could portray your art? 

I don't really know, to be honest. I got one a few years ago for Christmas and it took me almost a year to take it out of the box a paint something on it haha when i did finally paint it i really liked it, it was more fun to me than painting/drawing on a piece of paper or something.

 Speaking of other artists and their influences on you. Which artists do you look up to the most? Or just generally really like? 

That's a tough one, because there isn't just one i like or look up to. For a while there were like 1 or 2 i checked all the time, constantly, but then noticed the way i started painting was looking like how they painted, so i kind of stopped that, trying to figure out my own way/style of doing things....and pretty much anyone who does any type of art as their job/income i look up to Haha

So veering off of art for a second (sort of) You are also a music fan. What would you say was your favourites just now? Also is there anything that really gets you in the mood to just get creative?

My favourites right now....i would have to say Most Precious Blood, Ringworm, Withdrawal and Touche Amore. I'm always in the mood for them. One album in particular that i really like listening to while i paint is Crack the Skye by Mastodon. But, its not just those, i actually listen to a whole range of different music, but i wont get into them right now Haha

So back to "The Other Guy" again. The name itself is nice and simple for yourself, but what made you come up with it? 

Ooh the name huh? It can be a long story, so I'll give you a quick short version. A few years ago some friends and I were having a hungover breakfast before the drive home, i went to the bathroom and when one of my friends sat down he noticed someone was missing (me), but literally couldn't remember who this missing person was and asked "where's the other guy?"...and ever since then my friends have called me The Other Guy!

Haha Brilliant! So a question I feel has to get asked. What would you like to happen with The Other Guy in the future? Or to put it a different way. Where would you like to see The Other Guy in 5 years time? 

In 5 years?
best case scenario, its my job! That would be the best. But, i would say just more popular, more people know about it, making more toys and more shirts.

Well I think that about raps up the interview buddy. Last question for you being, How you feeling after your first interview? Did you have fun?

The interview was fun, some really good questions! i enjoyed it for sure.


Interviewing Trevor was amazing. He is a great guy and his art is spectacular. You read right also, that was his first ever interview! I was so honored to be able to have this opportunity. 
As part of what is becoming a interview tradition, Trevor did a little something special with the blank template. 

(Be sure to click this to full size to see the awesomeness)

Trevor...The Other Guy. We Thank You!

Happy 75th Birthday Jim Henson!

Today would have marked the birthday of one of the greatest men that ever lived! 

Jim Henson

The man that brought us The Muppets. 

We at uramyx are massive Muppets and fans and would like to take this moment to raise a glass to a great man! 

Happy Birthday sir! Your name lives on strong and well.

(Image Provided By Google®)

P.S. Check out Google's tribute to him... amazing!

All About The Munny! *The Other Guy Special*

Toys, all shapes and sizes, have always been a massive thing in my life, whether it was for actually playing with when I was younger or, as I got older just having them to display. My selection of toys has always been ones associated with TV, films, games, comics or just something that I am a big fan of in general. Recently the toys that I have been particularly taken with, have been various different designer vinyl's, particularly KidRobot's stuff. The Munny's are what interests me the most though. I really enjoy when things can be self-customizable and these are most certainly that.

One guy in particular that has certainly caught my attention with his various customized Munnys and other blank vinyl's is... The Other Guy.

The Other Guy is a side project from Trevor of Single Second. It is not just blank vinyl toys that he does, there have been pictures up of various paintings and T-shirts also, what totally grabs me though is those amazing designs. He has done quite a wide range of designs such as Eeyore and the Cheshire Cat from some of Disney's classics. But also a whole range of various others from comics, to film and more. Drawing in general can be a hard thing to do, especially when replicating the likes of a comic book hero. But the line work and effort that goes into these designs are utterly outstanding.

Personal favourites of mine are Captain Kirk, The Zombie Dunny, 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line up and there is a selection of Super Mario's in different power costumes also. The place to grab some of The Other Guy Munnys is at his Online Store. 

The Other Guy... We thank you! And keep those glorious toys coming.

GAME ON! *Indie Game: The Movie Special*

There is a movie that I have been following for some time now. The movie hasn't been released yet, and still I just know it is going to be a favourite of mine and many many others. This movie is both a show of great film making (if the little teaser videos are anything to go on) and a very informative insight into the world of indie games and their development. I am of course talking about...

Indie Game: The Movie

This film has been hugely anticipated for some time now. Ever since I stumbled across it a while back, it has been the first movie that I want to see that has come to mind every time. This little clip of Edmund McMillen is what first attracted me to them. 

I was in a complete haze of Super Meat Boy fever. Like a lot of people around that time, the thought of an actual game coming for the arcade market that might grab your attention for longer than two seconds was most exciting. So all amounts of fandom kicked in and I went on a hunt for all things SMB and Team Meat. As soon as I spotted this clip though, it became less about Super Meat Boy and more about "Who the hell made this amazing short clip?!" This was a perfectly put together clip and so easy to watch and fall in love with. The shots are utterly gorgeous and the way the content is put across, as much as it had a lot to do with the man himself, the manner in which it was put together had me glued. So who were these people? 

James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot

These two have changed the way I think about films forever. I honestly cannot explain what it is, I don't know whether it is just the way all the little shorts and the trailer are shot that does it, but I find myself comparing other documentaries with the thought of "This isn't as good as IGTM". It is a totally biased way to look on things and I know when critiquing things you should look at it on a whole. But once you have found something as amazing as this to you, you cannot help but compare it. These guys have made documentary perfection so far in my book, and the film isn't even properly finished and out yet.

Well it is now just mere months until a release for the film and they have just announced some amazing news for the film. This trailer for a start is the most hard-hitting thing I have watched in a while and just pulls my emotions from one point to whole other on entirely.
You know what? Rather than have me tell you any more, I think it's about time you watched this official trailer (That's one announcement) and headed on over to their site and checked out all the content. If you like what you see, help them out. They have a new Kickstarter Campaign that you could always help out with, or the old classic of buying the DVD and if a hard copy of a film isn't your fashion and you want to "get with the times" they have a digital version for pre-order also (Another Announcement).

James and Lisanne... Thank you so much for this piece of magic.

From Movie To Shoes

For a long time I have wanted to review a favourite director of mine on various works of his. That Director is Kevin Smith, and that will happen eventually after his new flick "Red State" comes out. But until then, I have some very very VEEERY comfy shoes that have his first and one of his best films all over it! The Etnies X Clerks Jamesons were announced a while ago, but only within the past few months did Route One in the UK actually get them in stock. I was first to call dibs at my local Route One in Edinburgh after hearing they had them. I haven't worn another pair of shoes since. 

If you are looking for a new pair of shoes that are comfy as hell and will last you a long time, then you can't do any better than these. Check these bad boys out. Also follow the link and check out Route One. If you're in the UK, check out your local branch. If you're not in the UK, go check out your local skate shop they will most likely have them.

This is Art Attack!

So here in the UK we have a show that was on TV when I was a kid and continued to be on TV until 2007 called "Art Attack". This show was basically a kids art show where they showed how to make various funny and "Arty" little trinkets to show to your friends and where the artists on the show also made big GIANT art attacks and kids would "oooo" and "aaaa" all over the shop for it.

Admittedly a lot of stuff wasn't great, but when you were a kid in the 90's, this show was gold! The one man that held it all together and showed us over the years to do all these creations was Neil Buchanan. This is the guy that went all out and came up with a hell of a lot of these designs and did the massive art attacks when in all honesty he was just some Scouse lad who was kind of good at art, but that was the magic part. You were a kid watching this show in absolute awe that this dude could do all these amazing things.

Adding to this you had characters like the head coming in every time he had finished giving his 2 cents, but also showing him making a royal mess of his attempt and a little joke as well.

Well Today I heard the unfortunate news that they are reviving the show "Art Attack"... without any of the original cast or crew. They are taking it from it's CITV home and moving it onto Disney Junior *sigh* this means there is some new younger guy doing all the art attacks, I don't mind when they revive something, but as long as it is the same cast. This guy doesn't even do the BIG art attacks, some other guy does and the quirky character they have in the place of "Head" is some palm tree! No! Not happy!
I for one will be finding some old art attack videos on the web and watching them until my eyes bleed!

Or trying my hand at some of the Art Attack's after all these years!

The Happiest Man *HappyHarry Special*

When I was in college I used to go on the net and search for different animation videos just to compare with other animators and learn from them. In all honesty though, I went on to find some funny videos. Well, once while browsing through Newgrounds I happened to stumble upon an absolute genius short animation. 

"Chuck's New Tux" blew me away. This little short made me think it was just such a simple slapstick humour cartoon that wasn't going to be anything spectacular. But after viewing it, I was so so wrong. This not only is extremely funny, but a beautiful piece of animation. The movement is just so fluid and for a short flash animation has perfect lip sink.

After watching this I went on a look at other submissions from the animator and found this. "A Slice Of The Action" Another fantastic put together piece that just looks incredible.

And the man that put all these together, Harry Partridge is an extremely talented animator and in this day and age where there is that many people trying to break their way out by producing any old thing that comes to mind, it is rare to find such a diamond in the rough. It's good to see that someone has such passion for his work and that shows in it also. I just want to add that I personally think that the character design is totally flawless. I urge everyone to check out his stuff. Thank you Mr Partridge!

Image Provided by Harry Partridge YouTube© Channel

Vincent To My Ears *Vincent Price Special*

For as long as I can remember, I have been a massive fan of the late and extremely great Vincent Price.

 Image Provided by Google® Images

It was very much fuelled from my parents being huge fans of his many films. They had a large collection of VHS sitting out and smack bang in the middle of all of them was a collection of about 15 of his films. I to this day have not seen them due to losing them in moving house or my mum simply refusing to play them because they are like family heirlooms to her now.

But the films I have taken upon myself to see, I cannot help but fall in love with that voice. It sticks with me for weeks after I have watched something and compels me to watch more.

The first time I really remember hearing his distinctive, terror filling (some would say sexy) utterly astounding voice though, was "Basil, The Great Mouse Detective" as Professor Ratigan.

Image Provided by Google® Images

This villain, in this Disney classic, was easily one of the most sinister and pure evil that there has ever been, and that was very much down to the fact that he had one of the best voices powering behind the actions. 

The main reason I have targeted the voice specifically, is because there was a piece that I have never been able to forget entitled "Vincent". It is a short created by Tim Burton and Rick Heinrichs following the story of a little kid called Vincent Malloy, who aspires to be Vincent Price. With this he starts to live out different scenarios of how he thinks Vincent Price is in his head. With everything from a reference to "House Of Wax", to quotes from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven", the animated short has captured that persona of Vincent Price perfectly and so effectively. Even down to it's black and white look.

Since first seeing this in 2008 on the special edition of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" in the special features, I have not stopped watching it. Hands down, one of the best shorts out there. All thanks to the star and subject matter of the short, Mr Price.

This man is simply amazing. I could sit here all day and ramble on and on telling you about how much he was a true inspiration, a genius to film, how he is just an absolute delight to sit and watch and have grace your ears. But if your reading this, you already know what a great man he was.

To mark what would have been his 100th birthday Strange Kids Club have been posting various things from across Vincent's career. Check it out and reminisce about a true Legend on his 100th birthday!

I'm a Strange Kid! *Strange Kids Club Special*

So some time ago, I went on a mad spree where I felt like my youth was escaping me. In a desperate attempt to recapture it, went on a hunt for every single TV show I watched when I was growing up. Ultimately, did not make me feel any better about any of this as I swiftly realised a lot of these TV shows were either extremely old now, or off the TV completely. 

But in the attempt to find old TV shows and mid 90s nostalgia I stumbled across something very interesting to me. 

Around the same time I joined Twitter, there was a suggestion given to me based on my recent searches and tweet subjects... Strange Kids Club. This little treasure trove has got to be one of the best ever groupings of all things early to mid 90's kids TV, comic books, Horror/B-movies/80s-90s films, weird and wonderful animation, old toys, games and loads more. There is actually so much nostalgia built up in this one place, it really needs to be seen to be believed. 

Now... not only this, but the main attraction himself (Strange Kid) has got to be the best looking stylized kids ever! Once again, seeing is believing:

Image provided by Strange Kids Club©

Look at that header! If that isn't enough to pull you in, WELL... The site recently released a comic entitled "Strange Kids Club Anthology #1" If you are a fan or like what you see and missed out on this, there is nothing to panic about (even though it has taken pride of place in my house because it's that dam good) I do understand there will be more to come from them, so you have not missed out on your chance to get hold of real peach! 

 

 Image Provided by Google Images®

I could not highly recommend this site any more... well I could, by simply saying if you are as big a fan of the above as I am, then you HAVE TO go check it out. This site has brought so many great memories to the surface again. Made me laugh and cringe and stare in sheer amazement all in one sitting. I urge you to go check it out! NOW!

Strange Kid... We Salute you! Thank you :)

Sculpt -o- Rama! *Jason Freeny Special*

Now I know that this man doesn't just sculpt, but that is what first attracted me to him.  

Jason Freeny has become a massive influence/part of my work and my approach to sculpting models. Something that he has done on his site many a time (especially on his Facebook) is document, in pictures, the beginning to end of an "Anatomical Vinyl Toy" sculpt. See the thing you will most definitely notice with Mr Freeny's work, is that it's all bones and organs and the way various bodies work. Let me explain.

He takes a (sometimes well known, sometimes not so well known) character toy and takes it apart, then proceeds to cut the bits in half, leaving just the empty shell inside. He then preps it, puts it back together and builds a small wire structure to keep it all up, pads it with excess clay, bakes it so it is all nice and solid and sound and (this is the good part) from here he starts to construct a detailed model of the bones and organs inside the character *pictured below*

This man's work is utterly astounding and he deserves all the credit it/he gets. I have been following his work religiously ever since he did the "Stay Puft Marshmallow Man" anatomy sculpt. He has a whole back catalogue of various different characters you can check out, but that's not all. Jason also partakes in 3D work. Creating some of the best 3D 360s and stills I have seen in a long time. Including, a gummi bear, Lego man and blow up glove!

This man is a genius with his utterly unbelievable creativity skills. I have probably missed so much more out. But the best thing to do is go see for yourself. 

Image by: Jason Freeny©

Image by: Jason Freeny©