Gender: Male
Status: Married
Age: 38
Sign: Virgo
State: Massachusetts
Country: US
Signup Date:
04/30/07
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Blog Archive
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July 3, 2008 - Thursday
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Summer Tour Dates
Current mood:  chill
Yay! I've got confirmation on my late August tour dates for Kenny and the Dragon. I'll be traveling through the southern US with stops in Tennessee, Mississippi, New Orleans and Georgia.
Sunday, August 24
2:00 PM
BARNES & NOBLE
2774 N. Germantown Parkway
Memphis, TN 38133
Monday, August 25
4:00 PM
DAVIS-KIDD BOOKSELLERS
387 Perkins Rd. Extended
Memphis, TN 38117
Tuesday, August 26
5:00 PM
SQUARE BOOKS
160 Courthouse Square
Oxford, MS 38655
Wednesday, August 27
3:00PM
LEMURIA BOOKS
202 Banner Hall
4465 I55 North
Jackson, MS 39206
Thursday, August 28
4:30PM
OCTAVIA BOOKS
503 Octavia St
New Orleans, LA 70115
August 29-31
DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL
Decatur, Georgia
Sunday, August 31
2:00 PM
BARNES & NOBLE
7660 North Point Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30022
My second leg this October will include: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Fran, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver.
All details (including links) and dates will be added to the ABOUT section of my website (diterlizzi.com). So check back often, and I hope to see you there!
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Currently
listening
:
Viva La Vida
By
Coldplay
Release date: 2008-06-17
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12:56 PM
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4 Comments - 0 Kudos
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June 29, 2008 - Sunday
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Box full of dreams
Current mood:  excited
Anyone remember the scene at the end of Back to the Future when Marty McFly's dad, George, becomes a famous sci-fi writer and opens the box full of his latest novels? That is totally what it is like when you get your complimentary books from the publisher (without the Delorean).
My editor, Kevin, is totally cool and will often send me his only advance copy fresh from the printer. This can be months (or even a year) before the book is released. One of Simon & Schuster's VPs, Rubin, hand-delivered the first and only copy of Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to me from New York City! (Okay, he was on his way to visit his son in Boston, but it was so awesome! And Ang cooked a great meal to celebrate.)
I get so excited because I really like to draw, and I really like to spin a yarn, but I LOVE making books. I love the size of them in your hand, the paper texture, the printing effects on the cover, and the smell of the ink (yes, I smelled dittos when I was a kid - this was destiny my friends). My favorite feeling of all, though, is sitting alone on the couch with a cup of coffee, or in bed right before sleep, and immersing myself in the story presented in those bound pages with a little bit of ink printed upon them. It is true magic for me.
And I want to share some of this excitement with you. I have been so inspired seeing what everyone has done with the "Spiderwick Drawin' Contest" that I want to keep that creativity going. So, next week, I will announce a "Design Your Own Dragon" contest and will give away some of my own fresh-off-the-press copies of Kenny & the Dragon...stay tuned!
12:30 PM
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11 Comments - 18 Kudos
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June 28, 2008 - Saturday
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Spiderwick DVD Drawin’ Contest WINNERS!
Current mood:  inspired
Once again THANK YOU all for entering on such a short notice. The competition was stiff with over 70 entries from all over the world! Angela and I judged on what wowed us through creativity, originality and technical skill. We had entries from all age ranges – from pre-schoolers to professional artists – and we were both truly touched by the time spent by all of you on participating.
But enough yammering, onto the winners!
Six-year old Ivy sent us several entries of her interpretations of some of the fantastic creatures in Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide. We couldn't figure out if we liked her posing with the will-o-wisp drawing, or her manticore more, so here are both of these great renderings from a young promising talent.
Nine-year old Isaac also sent us his renditions of the fantastic creatures, but explored them stylistically by rendering them in different mediums(!) We liked his collage phoenix and pastel wood elf the best.
Annie, from nearby Northampton Mass., sent us this killer rendition of all her favorite characters and scenes. We really liked the anime influence on the kids.
Twelve-year old Margaret love, love, LOVES Hogsqueal! She sent us several scenes of her own invention involving my favorite hobgoblin, but it was this one from one of the General Mills "Lost Chapter" books that wowed us.
We received a number of wonderful pieces from young, up-and-coming professional artists. But Monika's moody rendition of Mallory really captured the complexities of the heroine. Ang and I really felt her attachment to the character.
Our grand prize winner understood the spirit of Spiderwick and what my goal was with these books. Wen, from Costa Rica, sent in this luscious image of a tropical pixie that he recorded along with some great notations: "I present to you one of our endemic pixies, Aerisemen Spp....as you probably know, Costa Rica is part of the tropics, hence full of luscious rain forests that possess a wondrous biodiversity of flora, fauna and faery folk. Just like other pixies, ours mimic flowers and plants in their environment(s), but are characterized by a strong preference for exuberant adornment and most are much more ceremonial than their continental counterparts. Concerned with the cycle of life, a South American pixie will carry symbols of fertility, adopt forms from the reproductive parts of plants and seem to be most active during the transition period from the dry season to the rainy season. "
Seriously, how cool is that?
Congratulations to all of our Spiderwick DVD winners! Please confirm your mailing address by dropping a line to Angela at: angela@diterlizzi.com
Next Friday we will post some of the runner's up and personal favs, which I will send some goodies too as well...stay tuned, and thanks again for all of your support!
3:13 AM
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2 Comments - 4 Kudos
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June 17, 2008 - Tuesday
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Spiderwick Spiderwick DVD Drawin’ Contest!
Current mood: excited
Get your pencils, paints, markers and paper! I have (in hand) six copies of The Spiderwick Chronicles 2-disc special edition DVD ready to give to you, dear fans!
All you have to do is send me a drawing of your favorite character, creature, scene, (or illustrator) from any of the Spiderwick books for an upcoming special edition of "Friday Fan Art" on the DiTerlizzi site's blog.
Send your entries to:
Tony DiTerlizzi
Spiderwick DVD Drawin' Contest
P.O. Box 442
Amherst, MA 01004
I need your entries by JUNE 27th, 2008.
You may also scan and email your image as well. Please title your subject heading as "Spiderwick DVD Drawin' Contest" and send it to Ang at: angela@diterlizzi.com
You can enter as many times as you'd like. I will judge your entries based on originality, creativity, and technical skill.
Winners will be announced and posted in the "Friday Fan Art" section of my blog on June 27th. I will award 5 prizes of the DVD, and a grand prize of the DVD and Spiderwick trunk boxed set. All items have been signed by Holly and I.
Good Luck!
7:15 AM
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1 Comments - 2 Kudos
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June 15, 2008 - Sunday
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A Daily Jaunt Through the Planes (Farewell)
Current mood:  sleepy
As the week ends, I find myself back at the beginning of my work for the role-playing game, Planescape. The first color illustration you see in the Player's Guide, found in the original campaign setting, is of a halfling showing his adventuring companion how to make the portal to another plane open.
So I thought it would be fitting to redraw this one from 1994. It was one of the first finished images that I created for the line.
Ang and I went to see Sting in concert down in Florida during the time that I was working on Planescape, and I remember that I really liked how he had reinterpreted his old Police songs. It showed that the music was original and could be played in many variations but still be the same tune. I have felt that in redrawing and sharing some of this early work of mine has been like that - there were obvious technical advances on my part as an artist over the years, but the design ideas and imagination that went into the imagery for this game still held up over a decade later...and I am proud to have been a part of it.
7:20 PM
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4 Comments - 8 Kudos
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Friday Fan Art!
Current mood:  awake
Yeah, its Sunday, but I have been SO BUSY with the Spiderwick's Giant Problem art, that I haven't had much free time. (And I'll wrap up my trip down "Planescape memory lane" today or tomorrow too).
Anyways, we got a photo of this really cool model of the Stray Sod from Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide from Manuela in Germany. It was made out of suede(!)
I love seeing my work transformed into three-dimensions, I think because that's how I see it in my head. So thank you Manuela, this is awesome!
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Currently
listening
:
Two Lights
By
Five for Fighting
Release date: 2006-08-01
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5:05 AM
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3 Comments - 6 Kudos
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June 13, 2008 - Friday
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A Daily Jaunt Through the Planes (Pit Fiend)
Current mood: awake
Planescape's underworld was, of course, modeled after Inferno in Dante's Divine Comedy. I haven't read that book since college, but a good pal of mine sent me a newly translated version last year – and I am finally starting to read it. Written a little more..."cleaner", this version still retains the poetic verse and I've enjoyed it so far.
Anyways, here's Dante out on a solo adventure speaking with a pit fiend...I think he's asking where a good restaurant might be.
3:54 AM
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3 Comments - 4 Kudos
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June 10, 2008 - Tuesday
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A Daily Jaunt Through the Planes (Factions)
Current mood:  productive
I've been doing some characters from the various Planescape factions over the last few days, and I thought I'd post what I've done so far. Most are just a little more simplified and lively than their predecessors. I realized I added lots of clothing, armor, belts and tassels, to hide my cursory figure drawing back then. I guess after 10+ years I was bound to get a little better.
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Currently
reading
:
Along the Florida Trail
By
Bart Smith
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6:46 PM
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3 Comments - 6 Kudos
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June 9, 2008 - Monday
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A Daily Jaunt Through the Planes (Denizens of the Netherworld)
Current mood: sleepy
Yugoloths, baatezu, tanar'ri, devils, or Screwtape's peeps...whatever you'd like to call'em, Planescape had A LOT of them. To be completely honest, I really enjoyed rendering those creepies – but again, I think I lacked the maturity as an illustrator to push their designs to the fullest potential.
The most obvious flaw in the PS illus. is that they are all perfect specimens. After eons of fighting off adventurers, good guys from Mt. Celestia, and each other - well, they would show the effects of such a battered existence, and I think these wounds would add greatly to their grotesqueness.
Of course, I looked at 15th century painter of all things nightmarish, Hieronymus Bosch for inspiration. But I think the best devils I have seen rendered are by alien painter/genius Wayne Barlowe. His work is great - his imagination is AMAZING!
Okay, enough reminiscing, I am off to bed. Hopefully no succubi will invade my dreams
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Currently
listening
:
Howl
By
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Release date: 2005-08-23
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7:01 PM
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2 Comments - 4 Kudos
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June 8, 2008 - Sunday
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A Daily Jaunt Through the Planes (Githyanki)
Current mood:  artistic
Ah, the nefarious, notorious githyanki. For us older gamers, we first saw these Astral killers on the cover to 1981's Fiend Folio – and fell in love with their rich backstory and bizarre appearance. They always reminded me of some alien race on Star Trek, like the klingons.
Anyways, I got the opportunity to render them, and their githzerai cousins, quite a few times for Planescape starting with the first Monstrous Compendium. In fact, I still remember one game reviewer saying that my Planescape art reminded him a bit of Dr. Seuss (*see my postscript). I wonder if he was looking at my Grinch-like githyanki design?
Actually one of the key Planescape game designers, Zeb Cook, showed me some books he had recently purchased from Japan on an artist named Yoshitaka Amano. Of course, the artwork totally blew me away. Back in '94, I don't think many knew of his work here in the states, but now his work (rightfully) is much more known thanks to the availability of his lavishly illustrated books. His costume design and patterning were certainly an influence on my githyanki images.
This morning, I played around with the original Fiend Folio cover pose while incorporating bits of the original and my Planescape design. In my attempt of maturing as an illustrator, I veered away from the "look I am evil. See my evil face?", and created a more alien, otherwordly look. Besides, the actions of these villainous rogues certainly define their alignment.
PS – Speaking of nonsense children's book authors, did you know that the githyanki's main weapon, their vorpal sword, was originally created by none other than Lewis Carroll for his poem "Jabberwocky" in Through the Looking Glass? That's so cool...
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Currently
listening
:
Five for Fighting: Live
By
Five for Fighting
Release date: 2007-11-06
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2:03 PM
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1 Comments - 2 Kudos
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