First off, happy new year! Or well, it will be in a couple of hours, depending on where in the world you are! Here in tokyo the big countdown will finish in aout 10 hours.
I wish everyone the best of luck with 2009!

Second, I would like to give a big THANK YOU to everyone!
this month, MentalMirage got over 14000 visits! When I started this month, I was hhoping for maybe reaching 5000, last month being a meager 700, so this is a huge thing, and I just have to thank everyone for your support!

The MentalMirage Flickr Group is also really taking off! Now with over 200 members and almost 500 pieces of great art! Be on the lookout for an inspiration post, featuring the best from the group!

SO THANK YOU! AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Support a starving (no, not really) artist and buy some prints!

Well, from tomorrow morning, until the 13th January, I’ll be off to Tokyo, and maniacly chasing girls and drinking Asahi. But dont worry, I’ll continue to update, and I plan to share any funny and inspirational pictures I might find along my way.

Updates might become slightly crazy though, but I’ve done my best to prepare some wonderful stuff for you in advance, so hopefully you wont even notice!

I’ll do my best to link my Youtube V-Log here as things develop!

As a taste, here is a silly picture from my last trip, along with some friends.

Yes, I’m the redhaired dude with “Hentai” pointed at him… perverted foreigner… yep, thats me.

Ja ne! =^_^=

I have a good bunch of “Inspiration” blog entries ready, and will continue to publish those here to bring both inspiration to the people reading this blog, as well as some attention to some of the wonderful artists everywhere.

If you have an interesting piece that you think might fit on here, be that your own or someone elses, please send me an email at philip@mentalmirage.com. The headline should read “Inspiration” and contain a link to the picture, as well as a link to the maker of the picture.

Do note though, that just because its submitted, dosn’t mean it will be featured. Who decides what will be featured? That would be me, myself and I. But if its good, different and inspiring, the chances are high!

As you may notice, you are now required to fill out a “CAPTCHA” text before you can submit a comment or register. I know thats a pain in the butt, but sadly this site has been dealing with a lot of spam problems lately. Over the last few days I’ve continuesly deleted well over 50 spam comments every day.

So I know it sucks, but please deal with it.

Firstly, I’m happy to say that the MentalMirage flickr Pool is already getting new images brought to it, so be sure to check it out and contribute!

Secondly, this here is the images for my new business card, that I made ready for my trip to Tokyo. I think it turned out quite nicely, and I’m happy with it, and now looking forward to getting the prints shipped to me, hopefully within the next 10 days or so.

Thirdly, since I quite liked how the front of my card turned out, I’m offering it as a card print over at my redbubble site, so be sure to check it out and buy one!

Now, without further waiting, here is the front and back it:

I’m planning on making a tutorial (short or long, time will tell) on how I made the front image. I’m not sure exactly when I’ll have time for this, so we’ll see. But its coming!

Support a starving (no, not really) artist and buy some prints!

The MentalMirage flickr group is now up and running! So if you follow any of the tutorials here, and get a nice result, be sure to either link them in the comments or add them to the flickr pool! Its always great seeing how others go about it, and can be a wonderful source of inspiration.
Also, if you just have images that you feel are appropriate to the style of the group, feel free to add them! Its always awesome seeing what others are doing!

Speaking of tutorials, there are more to come soon. I’ve been quite busy with university, plus I’m planning a trip (returning) to Tokyo on the 19th december to the 12th of january. Exams are coming up, and I’m cramming Design Theory to be ready, hence things are going a little slow.

I’ve pretty much finished up a new business card, once I’ve put the final changes to it, I’ll be sure to put it up here, as well as give a tutorial on how to create the effect.

- Philip Zeplin

Support a starving (no, not really) artist and buy some prints!

Head over to my RedBubble or deviantArt shops, and check them out! Jump! and Sichuan are only some of the things that are up for grabs, other posters, t-shirts and designs can be bought there too!

Special note on Sichuan Poster:
All profit made from sales made within November 2008 to November 2009 will be donated to charity focused on the earthquake victims and china.

RedBubbble also has a t-shirt design you can buy, and I’m working on putting more up there! On deviantArt there is also mugs, mouspads, and everything else that you could possible wish for!

Support a starving (no, not really) artist and buy some prints!

Its my plan that in the near future, I’ll write up an in-depth tutorial on this image (watch out, its huge):

I also have planned to write a less in-depth image on how I achieved the effects of the Sichuan image.

All things to look forward to in the future!

A recent school project was to make a poster based on the Sichuan Earthquake 2008. The below picture is my result of that:

It turned out quite well I think! I got quite a bit of praise from teachers and students alike, far more than expected actually.
Because of that I’m currently trying to find out who holds copyright on the original picture of the ruins used, in the hopes of being able to sell it as a poster, with all profit going to the earthquake victims! We’ll have to wait and see how things turn out, but it could be interesting.

The blog is now officially up and running.
There might still be some changes to the colors and minor layout changes here and there, but it wont be anything major.
For now, I plan to use the blog as a puplishing tool for tutorials, news and whatever ramblings I might have. I’ll probably occasionally put up pictures I dont deem worthy to put up on the main sight, or that I want to discuss or have something extra to add about. But you never know what the future holds!

Anyway, for now, welcome to the blog of me, myself, and my website!