Rise of an ARTIST and batman too.

This blog is a squeal to "Batman taught me to read", so go read that one for some more background on this one : click here

         We last left off with me explaining that after discovering comic books I found that they were not only easier to read for me but actually improved my reading skills.  Sometime during the 4th grade my teacher in the special classes started noticing that even though I had little skill in reading, my mathematic skills where above average.  It was eventually decided that I would be divided between special classes and normal classes for math. At the time I was told by my teacher I was the only student ever to have this happen, which made me feel a little special but a lot more terrified. 

         On the one hand I was slowly climbing the academic ladder and getting into better and better classes for more subjects. On the other hand I was always wondering "for what and why does any of this really matter", I eventually got my answer.

         All the while this was going on, in fact ever since kindergarten, I would always be drawing.  Art was a unique world for me, it just came so easily and yet was more challenging than anything I had done before.  Even though I could draw for hours and was considered good even as a child, I knew I could improve. I loved the journey I was on, and as it turned out, it was never ending one.

draw draw draw draw draw draw draw draw draw draw draw draw draw.

         When I finally realized that - yes all the art you see everyday in life people get paid to make it and it doesn't just appear. I knew I wanted be one of those artists.  I set a goal. Here in Philadelphia there is a high school called CAPA, the school for the Creative and Performing Arts and I wanted to attend.  If I could get accepted into that CAPA it would be official that I was a real artist. 

         There were two things standing in my way:

1.  I needed to improve my art skills to be more like the professional pieces. (even now I'm still working on this)

2.  I needed to get out of the special classes once and for all. ( because at the time I was told CAPA didn't teach for special kids, which I later found out wasn't true)

       Eventually I got the option to leave special classes once and for all and I took it. It was a hard choice, but I went for it. Over the next few I took the same classes as every other student and continued working on my art. When it came time to go to high school, I was accepted into CAPA. It was one of the happiest days of my life and it made me even more confident in my art. Thanks for listening to this part of my artistic journey, I'm thankful that I can communicate it to you. Also Batman.

Until next time! 

Edited my : Mia Rose Cammisa

Batman taught me to read

This week I thought I would talk a little about my early education, and how I overcame my learning disabilities.

         When I was a child I loved super heroes, monsters, and tales of fantasy. I lived in a world of make believe, and to some extent I still do. I had a ritual of Saturday morning cartoons back then, waking up to the stories of spider-man, batman, the turtles, power rangers and X-men. Things seemed perfect at that time.

 

 

         Around the same time my parents were called in to talk to my teacher about holding me back a year. When they asked why they were told I couldn’t read. After a mountain of tests I was finally diagnosed with dyslexia. 


         What’s funny is that for years no one knew because I’d always get A’s and B’s on tests, even one’s that were heavily centered on reading because I would memorize the way the words looked they forget it. Even though that got me through by first couple of years in school the teachers couldn’t help but notice that I still knew nothing about reading and writing.

Dyslexia is hard to explain

         So in the end of all the talking and the test I had to leave the horrors of my Catholic school and go to public school where they had classes for "special" people like me.


Things went on normally for while, except for the giggles and funny looks a kid gets for being placed in the special classes, but I was slowly but surely learning tricks to read. I was learning, but the progress was very slow. I still couldn't get through reading a book without getting a migraine, that is until I discovered comics. Around that time I became friends with a neighbor who loved cartoon heroes as much as me. He also read and owned the comics those heroes began in. After a while he trusted me enough to let me borrow those comics of his to read.


I noticed reading comics came easier for me. I was able to read through issue after issue with out much difficulty. My mind was opened to a whole new world of stories. After a while I noticed an improvement in my normal readings and writings for class, and things would only improve over time...
Until next time! 

To be continued!

Edited my : Mia Rose Cammisa

A home for Sketches

     I have recently added a "sketches" tab to my tabs bar.   For about a week now I have been using one of my other accounts, on Tumblr, to post a sketch each day.  I plan to keep the same schedule of a sketch a day for the week, so 5 sketches a week will be posted on that  Tumblr.   

     I wanted to create a place to keep a record of every single sketch I do, a digital sketch book of sorts. Once I heard another artist "an artist has 10,000 bad drawings in them that they have to get out", so good or bad I want to show them all.  I hope through this I can see an increase in my work, and by making sketching a part of a routine incourage myself to draw everyday. 

Until next time! 

Edited by: Mia Rose Cammisa

A trip to New York to see the Engine

      Yesterday I got to take a trip to New York with friend, and fellow artist, Mike Burns. The reason for the trip was to see the gallery opening for "The Monster Engine", check out more on it here. 

Examples from the monster engine project.

       "The Monster Engine" is the creation of artist Dave Devries. It all started with the question of what would a child's drawing look like when painted realistically. The engine has been around for years and I have loved it since I first heard about it, so it was a great opportunity to see this amazing work in person.

The front and back of the card given out at the show.

     The gallery will be up from May 3, to May 30, 2012 at the Sacred Gallery, located 424 Broadway 2nd floor (between Canal and Howard) New York, NY 10013.    

     A great topping of the evening was meeting Dave Devries himself. I was able to get his autograph and then have him pose for a picture with me and Mike.

In Order from left to right: Mike, Dave, and yours truly. 

       Our trip didn't only consist of seeing the gallery, it was a all day event. We got there early enough so we could walk around the whole city and fine some cool and interesting spots. Some note worthy places we went were The Evolution Store located in SoHo, a fascinating place where you can fine science and nature collectibles like fossils and bugs. It’s pretty much like the coolest science class you could dream of.


        Another place that speaks more to the nerd in me was the comic store Forbidden Planet. The biggest comic store I have seen to date, simply put, they had EVERYTHING, definitely going to check it out again, next time I go to New York. 


        We also were able to find the Comedy Cellar, a place known for all the amazing comedians that have preformed there. Mainly Mike and I were excited since it’s featured in the opening of the show Louis, and comedian Louis C.K. still performs there. 

Me in front of the Comedy Cellar. Sadly we couldn't actually go there this time .

      I had a great trip to New York that really gave me a boost. I got a lot of ideas from the trip and talking with Dave at his show was a real reminder to keep going and never slow down.

 Edited by: Mia Rose Cammisa

The Solo Tribune

        A short time ago I was asked by my old friend, and amazing illustrator, Miguel Mansur to be a part of his new art community currently on Tumblr.  The ultimate goal is to build a community of Philadelphia friends and fellow artists.  It is still in the beginning stages, but I believe in time it will lead to many great things for Philly artists. Hopefully such things as gallery shows andwide spread promotion. 

       The Tumblr, as you can probably guess by now, is called SOLO TRIBUNE. It already features an amazing group of artists such as: 

Alex Halpin 

Mike Burns

Yara Safadi 

Howard Schechtman 

Leah Romero 

Darren Tolliver 

        and of course yours truly!  So go check it out and enjoy the work of some of Philly's finest and show your support.  Here's an image I've recently posted there and stay tuned! 

Edited by : Mia Rose Cammisa

Fun with my new Water-Color Pencils

My Pretty Little Flower !

      I usually work in the digital medium, but sometimes it’s fun to branch out and try something different. One of the different ways I enjoy is watercolors. Watercolor works well to compliment the ink work I do, giving me illustrations a different dimension.

Essentials watercolor pencils.

   
      It had been a while since I used watercolors though, so I thought a nice way to start up again would be to do it with a twist.

Goofy Frog creature

     I always wanted to try watercolor pencils. They’re very travel friendly and create nearly the same effect as traditional, so as a test I picked up a pretty cheap set and went to work.

They took a little getting used to since now laying down the colors was now divided into two steps. While laying down the pencil you need to keep in mind that you will be watering them down, so think of how you want the color to spread and be careful you don't lay down to much or to little.

Happy Dino-Ghost

    In about no time at all I was having fun with the pencils and felt I had gained enough control over them to get my desired effect. I’m glad I made the investment and recommend them to anyone that wants to use water colors but doesn’t know where to begin.

Dimwitted Demon - colored by my special gal Mia Rose.

      Finally I just wanted to show the image I had my girlfriend color in. She got curious about what it was like working in the pencils so I made her an image to color in.    

Edited by : Mia Rose Cammisa

Old Projects

Recently I finished my first job illustrating a children's book, which I'll elaborate on as soon as it gets printed. It was a very proud moment, however it was not the first book i had worked on. 

A few years back, around my first year in college, I met Sally Guariglia. Sally was working on a self published book, that book was Godfree.  I created the cover, and a few spots. 

If you're  interested in purchasing it check it out here: GODFREE  !!!

Edited by : Mia Rose Cammisa

Spring Time Garden

    

        Spring time is closing in, and the weather is getting warmer and warmer as each day passes. It’s time to go out and play. It’s that time of year when you get to work in the garden, play in the park, and look up at clouds while resting against the trees.

         

        It’s the time flowers bloom again and the weather is something you want to be in. It’s thanks to this lovely weather that I spent some time drawing outside while I watched my girlfriend work in her garden.

         I drew this photo above along with sketches for a new project. While drawing outside, other then some wind, I had such a great time drawing from life outdoors. Usually I am stuck hunched over a table looking at my computer or photos, depending on my reference, but outside I was put into a nice calm; looking out at a world of inspiration I think I had forgot about.

        My mind set was so different, and in a good way. So when you’re able, I recommend going out and doing so yourself.

  Edited by : Mia Rose Cammisa