Snow

Well it looks like the snow finally hit early this morning. I woke this morning to find it coming down pretty steadily. After checking the the wsdot website, and watching the news around 5am I decided that I didn't want to go anywhere. Actually what really motivated me to stay put was a phone call from a co worker saying he just drove by a huge pile up. It snowed through most of the day, so there was only one thing to do. Go enjoy it! This video is a quick little wrap up of the goings on today. The only thing that I didn't take some footage of was sledding. With rumors of more snow on the way, maybe I'll have that up in a day or two.

New shirts

I've got most of my logos done so now I'm starting to put up some other designs. Take a look if you get the chance.

Sketch

Ok it's been a little while and I haven't been posting. Heres a quick sketch of a goldfish I did with watercolor.....

More updates on the way.

T-shirts

I know you were thinking how could this day get any better? Well I have your answer. You can now buy RenickWoods.com t-shirts. Theres a few up now and more on the way. I'm not marking them up at all so the price is what the cost is to make em(even more the reason to grab one). So help support an artist with some advertising while looking good.

Sketch

Another ocean themed pic....

Pumpkin hunting and Halloween Video

The video to the previous post....

Pumpkin hunting and Halloween

A few weekends ago Travis put together a trip to the pumpkin patch near his parents house. After a great ferry ride in the morning and a short drive up the hood canal we arrived at their house. I want to say thank you first to Travis's parents for letting us come and have such a great time in their home, and second to Travis for putting this together. Also I want to say thanks for everyone that came along. It wouldn't of been the same without all you guys. That being said we set out in search of the best pumpkins we could find after piling into Travis dads truck. That's eight people in one truck. Arriving at the farm we were greeted by a tractor that pulled a huge cart behind it out to the pumpkin patch. It was a bumpy ride(you can see this in the video) but fun. Once out in the field we all found some good pumpkins for carving and rode back. On the way back the was a field adjacent to the pumpkin patch full of cows. One of the cows found a hole in the fence and decided to go for it. This in turn created a whole stampede of cows running straight at us looking for food. It was pretty funny, and I've never seen cows run so fast. Those things move when foods involved! After buying our pumpkins and piling back into the truck we were welcomed back to Travis's parents with encilandas. After stuffing myself with too much food we all played a game of cranium. Sadly all good times have to end sooner or later and after the game we (Elizabeth and I) had to head out. On the way back we got to see an amazing sunset in the hood canal on the way home. All in all one of the best days of fall I've ever had. Fall colors, pumpkins, fall sunset, cool crisp air, and good friends.

Halloween has now gone. But I have pictures of the pumpkins we got!!!!!(and some video). Here are Elizabeth's and my jack o lanterns. We had about fifteen trick or treaters this year. Which is nice to see people still actually going out and exploring the neighborhoods for candy.

What a great October!

Haunt part 2

Here's the second video I did for field of screams. I got the raw footage, cut it, added the effects, and then pieced it back together. This video plays while you wait in line to get in, an orientation video if you will. One thing that gets lost on here(the blog due to the recomp of the video) are the scratches and dirt I added in to make it feel more gritty. The sound is a little hot and cold but that was part of the wanted end result.

Sketch

The sketch.....

and the final....

Haunt

One of the people I work with runs a haunt out in Snohomish called Field of Screams. I've been fortunate to have been asked to do graphics for a lot of the promo. Check out the website( http://www.stockerfarms.com/page9803.asp?pid=13455&tid=13455 ). If you get in the Halloween spirit and want a good scare, go to the best haunt in the area. Here's one of the promo videos(more to come).

Sketch

I've been super busy with a ton of work this week and last(more posts on the way). This weeks sketch a quick fun shark.

The sketch....

...and the final.

Shawn Kemp

One of my favorite videos with one of my favorite players. No one could dunk in traffic like the Reign Man.

New Shoes

Saturday I picked up a new pair of the newest top Nike shoe, the Hyperdunk. The hype behind these was that they are the lightest basketball shoe ever made. I'm usually never one to believe the hype till I try it out. To many gimmicks. If you can jump, you can jump. Shoes won't make you Jordan or Kobe(if that's why you're buying shoes you need to invest some money into seeing a shrink instead). Playing ball is the only way to get better. Shoes won't change a thing.

That being said the advertising behind these(which has been pulled but can be found on youtube) is that you'll be dunking all over the place. Just about every Olympic basketball team had them too. Different countries all had their colors. So I was intrigued as to how good of a shoe they were with so much advertising and money put into it.

The first thing I noticed as I opened the box were the clear sides of the shoe. Looking closer you could see the threading that ran through it. Interesting. The next thing that really struck me was when I pulled one out of the box how light it was. The ads weren't joking, it was light.

But I still didn't have it on my foot. So I slid em on and laced them up. Stood up and walked around to get a feel. Felt pretty good, a little stiff but that would go away in a few games. Most shoes need some breaking in anyhow. So I bought them and walked out the store.

The real test was last night. The first on court testing. They didn't fail. In fact they've got to be one of my favorite pairs I've ever had. They were grippy but not overly so. The had some ankle support but not to much so they stayed loose. They also were really cushy for being so light. Two things that I thought would happen were one, they wouldn't absorb impact being light, and two the material the sides were made from would either be weak and scratch and scuff easy or too rigid. They were perfect and in all honesty it felt like I was barefoot.

I'd highly recommend these shoes to anyone playing basketball. They easily surpassed my expectations.

Sketches

Another sketch. Quick little color one I call Dave's Wave. Beginning of a wave breaking, so many possibilities.

More testing with the Water Housing

So the last few weekends of summer where on the way and I wanted to test out my water housing a little more before going into the ocean with it. This is at my favorite pool. I'm not going to say where it is, because anyone who knows me most likely knows where it is. Not as much swimming, just kinda seeing if it works at different depths. And the results were pretty good. Also a new intro. Please excuse the blocky-ness of the video. Underwater doesn't compress all that well.

Art and Sketches

Another part of the reason I started this blog was to get myself drawing more. In recent years(about the past two) I haven't been drawing enough. So one of the topics I thought would be fun is a weekly, or bi weekly sketch. Nothing to fancy just some quick ideas. Here's the first couple with more to come.

Elizabeths Birthday Party

The video everyones been waiting for......

Swimming

I picked up the Flip water housing recently. Actually after seeing that they made a water housing for the flip for not too much money, I thought about buying it for months. I finally picked it up about two weeks ago, and after testing it in the sink I took it to the pool. Now was the real test. Would it leak!? I was hoping the answer was no. Turns out it didn't and there was no distortion of any kind from the housing itself. It worked great. The shots in this aren't the greatest. I need to find a way to anchor myself to the bottom and shoot from there so I'm not so close. That'll happen on the next test run....

What Happened?

So summer seems to have come and gone. Some people have been asking why I haven't been updating my blog. Well for one I told myself I'd do this when I found the time and would make sure it would stay a fun project. I didn't want to feel that I had to do this. That brings me to the fact that I've been working some pretty long hours, trying to finish a backyard patio, and have several freelance projects on the table all at once(as I write this I'm working on one). I'm also trying to squeeze in time to share with my wife, and some time for me to just relax. All in all it's been a really, really busy summer.

What has happened? Well my wife had a birthday(Video will be going up later tonight). In July some of our friends planned a party in which we rented out the Baltic room. Did I mention it was a surprise? We all met at Christopher's apartment and waited....and waited.....and waited a little more for her to show. Then SURPRISE!!!!! As she walked through the door of the apt the look of shock was something that words can't describe. Later that night we proceeded to dance, laugh and just have fun at the Baltic. Thanks to everyone for everything that they did. It was great, and couldn't of happened without you guys!

Elizabeth and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary this august! We made reservations at the Salish Lodge right next to Snoqualmie Falls. It was one of the best places I've stayed. They had a list of sixteen different pillows you could choose from if you didn't like the one that came with the room. Sixteen! Elizabeth ordered the lavender pillow, and I tried one called the Zen, I believe. Elizabeth's obviously smelled like lavender, mine had magnets in it that were supposed to help your neck or back. Can't tell if it helped but I slept great. Our room was so nice. Fireplace, jacuzzi bath, french doors that opened to the back trail to the falls. Just perfect. The lodge itself was just as nice. It's whole interior had a wood/nature look and smelled like fresh cut lumber. There was room service and a spa(we didn't try either but maybe next time). It was definitely a five star accommodation. The next day we woke up and hiked down to the falls. It was easy going down(it's all downhill) but the way back was a little tougher(uphill). It was well worth the hike though, and if anyone is looking to get away for a weekend, I would recommend this place easily. Even though the place was so nice the best thing about the whole weekend was getting away with my wife and not having to worry about, or do anything.

So thats pretty much about it. Other than that just like I said above working a bunch, trying to get the backyard done. So theres an update.....hopefully I won't let things go this long again.

Hoopfest 08

So finally a new post. I'm not dead, just really busy. I'll report more on that in the next post soon. Till then heres the footage from hoopfest.....

Sunday Basketball part 2

More sunday hoops...

Seattle Supersonics

This is a day I knew would come, but I was hoping against all odds wouldn't happen. The Seattle Supersonics are moving. I guess the biggest thing I feel is dissapointment that the whole situation got so ugly, and then the city itself flopped. Dissapointed that contracts don't mean a thing to anyone with enough money. Dissapointed that the city actually had a chance to prove that it wouldn't flop, and take a stand on something(guess I'll still be waiting). Disappointed that people are right the NBA doesn't care and screws the fans. Disapointed the city and some people don't realize what thier losing.
I agree that the stadium amount asked for was insane. I don't agree that the city and the owners did everything they could to keep the team here. Any owner asking for the taxpayers to build the most expensive arena to date, and not pitch in a cent of his/her own money is crazy if they thought the public would get behind this. Especially when they are a millionare to start. That was just plain ignorance on the part of the new owners. But the things said by the city and it's unbending stance toward Howard Schultz were wrong also. Things could have been worked out. Nick Licatas' comment makes me wonder how he holds down the job he's lucky to have. "Sonics provide "close to zero" cultural value". Really? How does this guy have a job when he's supposed to represent the people of seattle, not himself? It's not the comment itself that made me upset, but the fact that you'd have to be so close minded to assume such a thing. And yet there he is a Councilman. No amount of apologizing can make me believe you didn't mean that. So theres one liar.
The next person thats hard not to blame for this whole mess is Howard Schultz. Selling the team to an out of town ownership(which I could tell from day one didn't want to stay here) then trying to sue them is just lame. C'mon Howard, we all know you looked for the quickest exit when selling. If you in all honesty could say you believed Bennet well, that gives me hope to be a millonare myself, if you could do it. I've got some great land in florida to sell ya. Right on a swamp er I mean with a water view.
Lair number two.
The next is Mayor Greg Nickels. After stating that the he was willing to do anything to keep the sonics here, it turns out he lied too. Wow what a surprise. I never believed this from the get go, and he proved that all he can do is cave in like he always does.
Lair number three.
Next is David Stern. I shouldn't even capitalize his name. Way to go Mr. I used to think that to be a head of a major corp you needed to be able to think on a higher level than a goldfish, but he proves me wrong. After arguing that the key was unfit with or without a remodel, he turns around today and says that if the key gets X,Y, and Z it will work. Did I miss something? Wasn't that the whole basis of your arguement? Now after you move the team to one of your best friends cities you say the key could work! Are you kidding!?I'm not a business major but I know that the city of Seattle has a much higher advertising market than OKC. So it just goes against all logic that you would piss off a decent size fan base and move a team to a lower market. Guess what David? After this seasons playoffs(Celtics and Lakers) I swore if the team moved I was done with the NBA. You've run a great league into the ground. I can catch the highlights. Not one more cent into your greedy, corrupt hands.
HUGE Liar number four.
Then theres Bennet. Who in all honesty was so transparent from the get go it was hard not to see this thing coming. You just don't buy a team and tell it's fans you're doing everthing you can to keep it here without pitching in any money. Your breath must smell from all the BS you spew. I feel bad for your wife. You actually said you felt hurt that the people of seattle didn't believe you that you didn't want to move the Sonics? I guess we know a snake in the grass when we see one. The saddest thing is you didn't even earn the money you got to buy the Sonics, you married into it.
Lair number five.
Last theres the chunk of people in Seattle that wanted nothing more than to piss on someone else's parade. Yes as I stated before paying for the whole and, or the most expensive arena is nuts. I never thought we should do that. But as soon as there was a whisper of a new stadium some Seattle residents went on a witch hunt. "Sign this paper". "No money towards a new staduim, not one cent!"." We have more important things to worry about". I'm still waiting for that list. Yes Schools are important. Roads are important. Mass Transit is important. But it's not like the Sonics were whoring money from those things. If we had a new arena little Timmy would still have school books. Our freeways would still be just as clogged if we don't(as you will see). I for one am sick and tired of study after study on roads, or transit etc, wasting money to get zero results. Then turning it over to a vote. Can I sign a paper somewhere to get that barred? So when exactlly will the "more important things" be addressed, cause I sure don't see anyone heading up a movement for them.
I've heard people say players should put some money down towards the stadium because they make enough. Yes they do make a lot. Yes it is for playing a sport. But if someone where to give you millions for doing something you're good at, are you telling me you wouldn't take it? You can't blame em for that. Heck I'd even take half thier salary. I think anyone who says different is lying. So imagine for a second that your work came to you and asked that you pay one or two paychecks towards letting you work in the building you work in. It's kinda silly.
Seattle has always been a city that has had something for everyone it seems. Arts, sports, parks, trails, clubs, shops, etc. The list goes on. One of the reasons it's so great to live here is the diversity. There are so many things to do for so many different people. This is part of the reason it's so hard to take this news. It seems that a part of the Seattle public seem to think that what they do in thier spare time is better than what others like to do in thier spare time. Which is just not true. That and Seattle is so easy to part with a big part of it's history. While we may get a new NBA team, and they may have the colors and logo, it's not the Sonics.

I'll miss the Sonics as a fan. The dunks by Shawn Kemp. The excitement that swept up the city when they were on a run to the championship against the Bulls. Going to games in the wet windy winter with my wife, or friends. Mostly though I'll miss the Sonics because Seattle just doesn't seem like Seattle without pro basketball.

Hoopfest 08

Hoopfest seemed to come and go this year. The weather was once again right around the 100 degree mark. In other words, very HOT! The games broke down like this.....lost our first one by a point in OT. The next two we won, and made it into Sunday. The last game we played we were ahead by 2 with 30 seconds left. The other team threw up a prayer fade away double pump 3, and it went it to tie it up. So we rolled into OT again. Lost that by a point and ended our run. Very frustrating to say the least. Anyways big thanks to my team mates for playing and letting me play with them too. Here are some pics of the action. All pics were shot by Daniel Brunner

The other team that we had did great the first day. Won both thier games and got into sunday easily. The next day they lost their first one, won the next, then lost one after that.

It was fun but we all wanted to get further than we did. Oh well next year. Video will be coming in a couple days.

Skating

Theres nothing like waking up in the morning and hitting up some skate parks. No kids around yet, warm weather(still waiting this summer), and just your friends. These are some of my friends on one of those mornings.

Basketball part one

I'm lucky enough to know some people over at a gym on the eastside that let me come and play ball with them. This is some footage from last Sunday. Good games, good people. Big thanks to my friend Carlos for getting me in the door there, thanks to the people who play, and continue to let me play there. Hope you enjoy.

Also thanks mom for the RI jersey, as can be seen here. It works great.

The first blog

Ok so I decided it was time to start a blog. Some of my friends have been doing it (ie http://travismayfield.blogspot.com/) so it seemed like a fun idea, and worth a shot. My wife recently bought me a flip camera for my birthday(thanks so much babe!!), so I was ready to shoot footage. With a little editing I put my first clip together below. Thanks to Levi for doing the sound on the graphics. He's the man, check out his wife's blog which he sometimes contributes too http://comeandseetheseitz.wordpress.com/. This is from my birthday a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to my lovely wife for putting the party together. Also thanks to everyone who showed up to celebrate with us. Hopefully a fun time was had by all. Don't ask me what is happening in this clip, it's some of the most random conversations I have ever seen. But some how it works. I still don't know how I caught it on film. I'm just glad I did. Thanks again everyone for coming. Enjoy the clip.