CaptainHowdy.com The #1 Exorcist Fansite Since 1999
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There, you see…? (I do!) You’ve got a style you can call your own. Nice work. 🙂 Now two bits of advice before you keep on keepin’-on:
1)Don’t pay TOO CLOSE attention to others’ styles, or you might find your watered down into something no quite your own.
2)Draw! Draw! Draw! Draw anything and everything. Still objects, moving ones. Any angle, all angles. Doing this will, of course, expand your visual vocabulary of subjects you can draw at will. AND, just as importantly, presumably: Your subjects will LIVE on the page or sheet your drawing on. So rather than drawing them from the same angles all the time, you’ll have graduated to drawing various parts of a figure’s moving or still body, for example, so they don’t look like they’re merely posing. Depending on the subject matter you’re attempting to illustrate, the more skills and subject you have at your disposal, the more successful the artwork.
This encapsulates my 17 years drawing (started in 4th Grade, at age 10), but God guided me the whole way, even when I didn’t know Him. Oh, and get this: take breaks when your artwork just isn’t “happening”. I have — for good and bad reasons — and days, weeks, or sometimes months later, my skills, talent, an visual vocabulary — all of the above! — jumped, leaped, and bounded to new heights and distances. Having had no real training — or modest school training at best — and having a rollercoaster of a life through and since childhood, it’s taken me years for the following to dawn on me: It’s all God’s doing. Constant and gradual improvements in my abilities as what I’ve experienced, sudden and gradual MIRACLES… that’s what I’ll call them. There had to be a source. I had a calling: to be the best illustrator I could, taking my gift seriously, allowing my other life’s aspects — my humanity, my manhood, lifestyle, and relationships — to mesh so that with daily struggle I might directly when appropriate, or indirectly, demonstrate the authentic Christian (“Christ-like”) way, pointing the way to God for those around me, in turn radiating love via any who my be moved by the example God has blessed me with for his purposes (not my own, at least not originally).
M.I.K.E.
Indeed, not a diaper. The demon figured he was more at home wearing the loincloth of, say, an Egyptian. Or another culture of sunny, hot Africa. More primal and impressive to mortals, that way. As well as ancient, for one so ancient as he.
You figure he wanted to stand out/apart from the other locals: Turkana tribespeople, Catholic priests/archaologists, doctors, and British military.
In conclusion: Not a diaper! 😛
Anyway, I thought his appearance and behavior were genuinely creepy in the “oh crap!” sense. Evil personified has many faces; we see it here in 1947 Kenya, and later in 1973 Georgetown. The Devil is crafty, a liar, and goes about things on a case-by-case basis. He is different things to different people, in different regions and eras, and “meets them where they’re at”, much like Christ — only Christ was there as redeemer, not tempter.
Oh yeah, and the devil has supernatural powers — “Jedi mindtricks” if you wish — he’s a demon, a fallen angel, not mortal man. A mere man could not do such, of course.
This demon, however, is in fact in possession of a humanbeing — Cheche — and accordingly is able to do supernatural “tricks” through his human vessel/body. Righty? 🙂
Respectfully,
M.I.K.E.
Thanks, Granny! You truly are quite the scholar; one with no agenda other than to share knowledge! (The best kind!) 😀
Sincerely,
M.I.K.E.
Hey, guys. Don’t quote me, but I’m pretty sure there may be an essay or two on some of those specific subjects in MacFarland Publishing’s forthcoming essays book on the man’s works.
The wait will be even more agonizing than Dominion’s was, I predict! 😛 EARLY 2008. Here before we know it, in all major bookstores on and off-line, if not also minor ones. Stay tuned. 🙂
M.I.K.E.
Ps. Draft 1 of my essay on ‘Demons Five, Exorcists Nothing’ is nearing completion, then on to revisions. But it’s going great. I’d give genuine specifics on my particular essay or those of the other essayists, but I adore suprises kept by contract. 😉 I’m sure you understand. Hang in there, gang! 🙂 Early ’08! Quite literally DAYS away! Yes, DAYS. Weeks and months, TOO; okay, ya got me! 😛
Speaking for myself, my essay on DEMONS FIVE, EXORCISTS NOTHING is going absolutely splendidly; I really pick it apart. I have never had so much fun writing an essay. It’s hard work, but it keeps my brain sharp. 🙂
On behalf of the other writers, and our editor, thank you for your continued interest! Exorcist fans and Blatty fans alike will enjoy this book of writings immensely, based on what I know of the other essays’ topics and writers; intelligence and reverence abounds. It could become our favorite new book — if… i may be so bold. 🙂
M.I.K.E.
I think this “GODFATHER” idea is wonderful. Great ideas here, you guys.
Just one thing: Use spellcheck on what is otherwise AMAZING box artwork — no offense. 🙂
Seriously, fantastic design there, Father Merrin. Impressive.
M.I.K.E.
Hatty, have you got the higher-res “head morph” trailer? It’s not too shabby.
One of us can probably share it with you. Let us know.
M.I.K.E.
Since the film/novel/story is from the point of view of Christian theology, I firmly believe “Captain Howdy” is literally nothing more than a name the Demon — known as “Pazuzu” to Middle Easterners — adopts for setting up the invasion and possession of young westerner girl Regan MacNeil. She and the audience know the Captain Howdy face when we see it, but that’s only part of the puzzle; we’re actually looking at the truest form of the demon (formerly a beautiful heavenly Angel of God). Captain Howdy and Pazuzu are one and the same, but more accurately, Captain Howdy is to Pazuzu what Superman is to Clark Kent. Superman is the ideal; and thus to Regan MacNeil, Captain Howdy is a fun imaginary friend… initially, until Pazuzu shows her his true appearance with the fleeting daydream; she’s frightened… Captain Howdy isn’t “very nice” after all. Pazuzu knows how to get things done; with kids, a name-change is a must; “Captain Howdy” is more enticing than “Pazuzu”.
Who’s with me? 😛
M.I.K.E.
No worries, Cap… And what’s this about a successor? A little Captain Howdy…? 😮
CONGRATS, my friend (and to Mrs. Howdy)! 🙂
All the best,
M.I.K.E.
“Evil against evil.”
Whatever that means, I still don’t know. 😐
But the two dogs’ gnashing of teeth reminds me of this quote from later in the prelude.
M.I.K.E.
Good ideas.
Mine has always been that (actual demon) Pazuzu (alter ego: “Captain Howdy”) knows not only of its eventual showdown with Merrin, but arguably the other two most important figures or targets it will have a brush with imminently — Pazuzu invades the day-dream of the impressionable, young child, Regan, the “piglet”. And, the demon drops into the night-dream of the despairing, burned-out, weary middle-aged priest, Karras.
I never had the thought that these two human beings — or even just one of them — had visions (or, more accurately, premonitions), but instead that they were invaded (perhaps to see who would make for a better possession…?) by the demon, a sudden, fleeting invasion; again, maybe that’s all the time the demon needed to choose its victim.
Just some thoughts. Great topic, guys. 🙂
M.I.K.E.
