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gmckee
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[10837261]
[2009-06-24 03:35:45 +0000 UTC]
"G. McKee"
(United States)
# Statistics
Favourites: 48; Deviations: 32; Watchers: 55
Watching: 40; Pageviews: 10117; Comments Made: 576; Friends: 40
# Interests
Favorite visual artist: YouFavorite movies: Braveheart
Favorite bands / musical artists: Bob Seger, Third Day
Favorite gaming platform: breakfast room table
Tools of the Trade: pencil, pens, markers, moleskine, Mac, CS4
Other Interests: Movies, Theology, Politics
# About me
A professional designer, illustrator and teacher. Want to know more, please feel free to ask.Current Residence: USA
deviantWEAR sizing preference: Large
Operating System: Mac OS/Win XP NEVER VISTA
Skin of choice: my wife's
Personal Quote: these things make me feel even more vanilla
# Comments
Comments: 50
I just finished up with the books I was reading now, so after my vacation I was going to start on one of yours. But I guess this one book that you recommended me (10 Books That Screwed Up the World And 5 Others That Didn't Help) is not exactly my cup of tea. The smashing critiques at Amazon are exactly what I would expect of it (especially after I saw that the Communist Manifesto was on the list - if he is included, the Bible should be as well, since both books are based on an initially good idea of love, but have been used to create the opposite). I do not expect anything but his opinion on these books, so I intended on picking a different one.
However, then I find statements such as "Any educated non-believer will remain unconvinced." in almost all the negative reviews for the books you recommended me. I guess I will stick to watching the documentary based on How Should We Then Live?, even though I can only shake my head when reading what he claims: "I am convinced that when Nietzsche came to Switzerland and went insane, it was not because of venereal disease, though he did have this disease. Rather, it was because he understood that insanity was the only philosophic answer if the infinite-personal God does not exist."
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You should read those books anyway. Doesn't matter if you disagree with them initially, or even when you're done reading them. Bare minimum it will engage your thoughts in a way that will result in reasonable reinforcement of your current beliefs or reasonable change in your current beliefs. Either way, you're richer intellectually and personally.
"10 books" absolutely includes the opinions of Dr. Wiker. But it's a reasonable dissertation on how one philosophy leads to another. And in fact, his connections are pretty undeniable. Give it a read. It's just a book.
We should never be afraid or unwilling to read books that oppose our own views. And we should be always willing to listen to opposing arguments with a)an earnest and honest attempt to persuade the other person toward a better position and b)an earnest and honest willingness to change our own positions when faced with better or stronger arguments. Decent people (on both sides) in any argument or debate should adhere to both a) and b).
Comparing the Bible with the Communist Manifesto is like comparing a tomato with a shotgun... there is no comparison.
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I realize that. However, as I said, those books are not worth reading. Not because they propose an opinion opposed to mine but because the reasoning is bad.
Thanks for the recommendations nonetheless.
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You cannot know that without actually reading them. Unless you have closed your mind to the possibility of being persuaded. And if that is the case, then there's no reason to read anything other than fiction. That is tantamount to intellectual masturbation.
An opinion about whether "Gone With the Wind" is the best movie of all time can't matter if one hasn't actually seen "Gone With the Wind."
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Except there are reviews 'n all.
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Hey man it was good to see you again at the Con. Wish we could have spoken longer. Great stuff by the way!
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I gave you another llama so you could get a super llama. Love your art, you should do a Blob piece
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Thanks again! Actually the blob is an incredibly fun (and kinda hard) character to draw. But you're right, I need to do one.
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Thanks man!! I can't tell you how great that is to hear. I've been hoping to be the Shiznack for quite a while!
Seriously, thanks a bunch!
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Hey man,
Looks like you hit the big 500. It's all uphill from here
jw
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awesome artworks
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Hey man! Thanks a million for the compliment! I actually do some comic work too... but I've been detached from the industry for about 5 years now. I used to do some pencilling and inking for comics. And I used to do illustrations for RPG's and CCG's a lot. But now I just teach constantly, and do some illustration and graphic design on the side.
It's a busy life. But I have intentions of doing some more sequential work soon.
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wow i cant wait to see your sequential
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Not a problem man. Love the work. It inspired me.
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I found you 
In case you have not figured it out... green dragon is me! Jeanette Barnes...
I just recently posted some pretty cool photos and drawings lately, come on by and check them out anytime.
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not a prob, I like to see what other people do
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Hey Jeanette! I'm glad to see you on Deviantart. I'll be sure to take a tour of your work.
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Thanks for checkin' it out man!
I appreciate it.
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I couldn't help but watch it man. I learn from you every time I see a new image. Thanks for posting.
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You're far too modest. You're the comic equivalent of John Holmes my man!! A bonafide B.A. Baracus with a pencil.
Alright.... I'm done with the compliments now. I'm sounding too much like towel boy.
Later tater.
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I appreciate the 
Great gallery BTW!!
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You do some really solid work that I think I can learn from. Thanks for posting it. That b&w Superman you did is really beautiful. It has some really natural and flowing lines to it. Great sense of emphasis and hierarchy too.
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Many thanks for the kind words my friend. It is much appreciated. 
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Yes indeed, thank you for the watch, keep in touch, and keep rockin' yourself my boy. Looking forward to seeing what you stir up down the dusty trail. ROCK!
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Hey if you know Cheeks then you might now a good buddy of mine, Sanford Greene. I don't know Sean really, though we've met. The stuff that I'm posting here is newer for me. I used to do a lot of freelance work for games and a little comic work. But I've been doing a lot of other stuff in the past four years really. I can't seem to find my groove. My "style" that seems so Cheeks inspired kinda is. But it's really more a style that Jason Walker and I both tried last year using Illustrator. But Jason has been MUCH more prolific with it than I. (Of course, I've got three kids to deal with!) The sad truth about my style, is that there really isn't one that's consistent and discernible. I'm an old has been, that never really was much. I'm working on finding a more consistent voice, and then trying to get work again. We'll see how it goes.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the encouragement.
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Yes indeed Sandford. Crossed paths with him quite a few times. I've always enjoyed his work, and he's gotten far better over time. He's an oddball since he's become pop, but it's understandable.
Cool about the gaming and comic work. You should post some of it here. I know you're holding out wink* wink*. Link me to this Jason Walker as well, curious to see what he's doing.
About having a consistent style etc. I hearya, I feelya, believe me I know. First hand... Not bad though too constantly mix things up I say. Try new stuff out. Just keep playing around, and make sure you're pushing and consistently challenging yourself skill wise, as well as in these styles you're playing with. It's like chemistry, keep mixing until the potion is right. Then keep mixing to enhance it more. So, how old are you? You make yourself sound like a has been. You DORK, don't be so loathsome. Have more confidence and push too new heights, I know damn well you have it in you. That is unless maybe you're over the hill. Artists never go 'over the hill', some just choose to fall. Keep kickin man. I totally feel your pain about not being up to your own standard, I'm just as bad. Just don't let that loathing infect your progression y'know...
KEEP KICKIN' - KEEP THE VIGOR
ROCK
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Kick in the crack indeed my man!
I think your stuff is great and y'll easily be able to not only have fun and develop the styles, I'd say people would hire you over me for sure. Your much more commercially sound. So, just keep floating your stuff out there and you know the shpeal, the fish will come for it.
Thanks for the bloggage as well on Jason, he's here on DA, I just didn't realize who is who half the time. Been watching him, great stuff.
...anyway, sorry if this message is aloof. Busy night of painting, still far to go, and my brain is getting about fried. Break for a bit, then back in the oils.
CheerZ dude, and KeePaH rockin' like only you can!
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Hey Wade!
I didn't take it too harshly at all my man! I think you were right on freakin' target! Yeah, family is my biggest joy now. I still love making art and all... but I often choose to hang with my kids rather than going to paint or draw these days because there's more joy in it.
I don't foresee anyone hiring me for illustration right now. All of the old AD's that I used to work for at White Wolf, AEG and WotC are probably gone now. And I only did inking for Marvel and DC through by ghosting some friends.
The idea of me getting work over you is utterly beyond comprehension man. But you're right that I just need to keep pressing on. There's a great old Japanese proverb that says that "Persistence beats everything." It's more valuable than talent, intelligence, charm, etc. Good words to live by.
And yeah, I agree about not having to make a living at it. I've done enough freelance work to know that I don't want my family to be dependent on freelance alone. But I used to just teach and do freelance work and that was a pretty good living. Now I do almost no freelance and teach all this other jive to make a lot more money, but not really have a better living. I'm just trying to get back to only teaching at the one job and doing freelance. It might be a couple of years though. In the meantime, I'm just holding down the fort.
Jason's work is brilliant. And his character and work ethic are even better than his art. He happens to be my best friend too. Absolutely, positively one of the best men that you can know. I'd encourage you to befriend him.
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