R-rated Movies - An LDS, BYU Animation Student's Perspective

I have written an article on R-rated movies from an LDS perspective. When I wrote this article I was a student in the BYU Animation program.

If you are not LDS but have sometimes wondered why your Mormon friends are picky about what they watch, or have "black and white" rules about movie consumption, the article should answer your questions. It is, however, written to a Mormon audience. There is a division in Mormondom (if that's a word) on this subject, because some are pretty strict about it, but the official rules I don't think are quite so clear-cut, leaving the choice to the viewer's discretion.

R-rated, an LDS Student's Viewpoint

Progress

To brighten my mood I decided to post some work from this time last year. This is from our senior film, Crossing. Yes that is my "design" for a joshua tree. It was precisely a year ago that I recognized how incredibly inept I was, and although I could see things in my mind, yet I could not translate them onto the page as I wanted to. My understanding of 3-dimensional space was not very well developed. And while I still have a long way to go, at least I'm progressing.

Birthday

So for my birthday I woke up early and caught up on a lot of missed blog reading. It was depressing. I'm going back to bed.

New sketch

Hi. Just a new sketch. Not really sure what's going on. Just trying to
figure out and experiment with my tools.

Anatomy Lesson

I have written articles on the following subjects:

Artistic Anatomy from the Latter-day Saint Perspective: Its Purpose and Power

Art vs. Pornography: Practical Advice for the Student Artist with Values

Practical Information on How to Study Anatomy

These articles will be updated as I feel it is needed.

Vanessa

Vanessa helped me out. She had to hold her arms like that for 5 hours. Try it sometime.

I think this is the best one to date.

Why do I see art as being inextricably connected with my religion?

The answer lies in how I see the answer to the age-old question to the artist: "Where do your ideas come from? What is it that inspires you?"

My simple answer is that my ideas come from God and so does my inspiration. I will one day compile a list of artists that have believed the same, for they are many.

In my religion we believe in something called continuing revelation. A revelation is essentially a God-given "good idea" (that can sometimes claim to be an eternal truth). It's "continuing" because many religions don't really believe it happens in modern times, particularly in regard to revealing new or lost truths about the universe and our place in it.

But that is what I consider big revelation, and it doesn't happen as often, but what I receive as an artist is basically the same thing on very very small scale. Nevertheless it is my own, and I believe that when I have a good idea, or when my synaptics connect in my brain and I learn something, that it happens either directly or indirectly because of a higher power. Directly because I believe He has the power to enlighten and inspire me, and indirectly because He's the one that created me and is guiding me through my life's story, and as such, all things are an indirect result of His handiwork.

These truths I learn are almost always related to art, because art is my life and my passion. As I have more good ideas and more inspiration I become a better and better artist.

In regards to my religion, we canonize additional revelations every so often. One such collection is called the Doctrine & Covenants. It contains a record of what God has spoken to and through a latter-day prophet named Joseph Smith. Joseph is kind of like Moses but without the beard.

Thus, because of revelation I see all my art as a byproduct of God's handiwork. As such, I treat God like I would a Renaissance Master, and I trust in the judgments and good ideas He gives me, as well as the guidance, direction, and rules He places upon me, for I trust that as I obey them the mysteries I do not now understand will be unfolded to my view more rapidly than if I was to trust in myself, or the scientific method, alone.

Who wouldn't trust Michelangelo if he were alive today and teaching sculpture? Then why not God?

Charcoal headpainting

I know some people like to call them drawings but I'm pretty certain
it's more like painting. I just finished this about 10min ago.
Uploaded with my iPhone.

A new Religion label

In accordance with a class I am taking that requires it, I have decided to start including topics of religious significance on this blog.

I consider my conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church) to be the capstone of my life and the singular event (although the process spanned several years and is ongoing still) that has changed my life for the better more than anything else I have done in my life.

I encourage everyone to ask questions about our place in this world, the meaning of life, and any other subject that seems important to them.

These religious posts will generally link to larger papers or articles outside of my blog so that it doesn't become distracting for visitors to the artwork.  I have chosen to include them, however, because it's pretty much what you would get in a conversation with me, since my views on art are inextricably connected to my religion.

To filter just the religion articles click the "religion" label at right.

The American Marriage Debate

Much has been said about same-sex marriage and most of it is hot-headed nonsense, so I decided to educate myself on the subject. I recommend all Americans to do the same. If you want a jump start, here's the product of my 40+ hours of research which I didn't finish but have a goal to within the next six months. I am against the legalization of same-sex marriage in America but pro LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) relationships that are legally considered marriage. Sound contradictory? Read my paper.

A brief paper where I argue that America needs 2 types of legal marriages, one which allows for the raising of children and one which doesn't (This paper is currently in an unfinished state WITHOUT footnotes, but with a few minor and rather arbitrary citations because I had to turn the paper in. The finished paper will be perforated with them):
What is Marriage and Why are People Saying Gays Can't Have It?

My works cited of scholarly sources (with one or two minor exceptions I will take out when I get the time; my paper is built on the scholars):
Works Cited - Marriage Debate

Feel free to comment on the subject or send me an email with your opinions.

Portfolio Blog

Hey for anyone interested I just created a portfolio blog to help me as I try to get a concept design job. It sums up everything that I am in the art department...kind of a shame all my technical skills don't really exist...

http://michaelmercerportfolio.blogspot.com/

An Artist's Birth

This image isn't yet finished, but I have to post it for a class. It comes with a poem.

An Artist’s Birth

Graphite grease like a second skin
Smothers my fingers, nose, and chin
Eraser nub now a field of string
All is smudged but the page before me.
A homely birth to a comely face.
And from her a radiance constrains my senses
Preventing departure, I linger still
Make thy mark, she speaks
Make thy will.

In thy tender care I live
By thy gentle touch I breathe
Stroke my hair and rub my cheek
Bring me form from obscurity
As thou wilt I will conform
On thy page my soul is born
Without thee I would not be
And all I ask before thou leaves
Is make me whole, make me ‘plete
Forsake me not, my maker, please.
How can I live and never know
Thy plan for me was more than shallow?
So make of me that thou wishes,
All I ask is I am finished.

Hunched in a basement, my back is sore.
A single prison-like window that glows no more.
I look away. Wipe black my eyes with medium.
2am, yet again? I think. 2am
And she’s calling to me,
My handicapped child
The beauty.
This shouldn’t be, an unexpected creation
A hobbyist’s delight, reality’s abortion.
Too much tomorrow, I haven’t the strength
One or the other must break.
I swallow, clear my mind from the consequence
And calmly return to my elevated desk.

Shh, I whisper. It’s alright. I dab her eye, brighten the light.
I won’t forsake thee, love, no, not tonight.
You trust in me and I will guide
Until the light and shadows we’ve tried
Til the stray marks have been erased
And we through the night together awake
When you are made whole and I am made great.

Environment Thumbnails

Been doing a few environment sketches lately.

Monastary

This is the most recent version of the monastary for Roák-Aradûn.
Kelly my instructor has been nagging me to finish stuff and get a
portfolio together. Finishing stuff is kind of fun. Ironically the
image above isn't quite to that stage yet but I figured what the heck.

Dryad

A tree spirit.

Joe Olson's Snow Monster

Value by me. Line art by Joe Olson.

More drawings from a quiet Sabbath evening.

After diesta

So there's a new avalanche artist named Diesta and I love his work.
This is a kind of emulation I guess. Only thing missing is a beautiful
woman.

Forgot to post my 15s

I really feel that drawing quickly helps me draw better. These are 15
seconds.

Gestures in conte

After a four month hiatus I returned to conte today. Here are the
results. I feel like I'm getting closer. Only light years to go...