Saddest Factory Productions

few things here, few in the works.

2010-03-03T10:23:00.001-08:00

So I've been painting a bit... I think I might snap some photos and upload those too... but I don't have time now... and I'm not sure when I'll have the time to do it. Might also take pictures of my room, to show how nifty it is... even though I'm only in it maybe once or twice a week. But for now, here are some sketches I did with my tablet (the neatest gift I ever received).

That Zany Anti-Christ!

2010-01-22T15:32:00.000-08:00

Here's a comic with Evil Anti-Christ Barry. Click for full size.

The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe! Number 7

2010-01-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

Today in my email, I found out I had two new comments on this blog. So that means someone other than Barry checked it out. Neat. Because of that, I decided to go ahead and finish something small I had started tinkering with a couple of weeks ago. This is my first tablet-only comic... and it's not all that funny. Still, it EXISTS, and that's what matters right now.

more tablet sketches

2009-10-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Nothing major.

Testing.

2009-10-12T22:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, yo. First post in a long time. At the old place where I was staying, the internet hated blogger. Also, I got a job, and have a girlfriend... when I'm not at one, I'm with the other... and I don't really do finished sketches in my free time.

Regardless! One of my best friends for many years bought me a tablet, and imposed obligations to use it. So here's a few things I've roughly drawn whilst trying to figure the awesome thing out.

Let's give this old blog a try.

Pitstop

2009-05-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends said I should draw Penelope Pitstop. Oddly enough, I actually did it. Here it is.

I now have a Livejournal

2009-05-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

It's so I can post pictures into the comments sections of other livejournal pages (most of the web-artists I dig use livejournal).

Fr'instance, Harvey James came up with this assignment where you take a little drawing of a cat that he's done, and you turn into a drawing of a person.

I actually decided to participate.
Here's what I did:

Soup Opera!

2009-04-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

Click for full-size

If there is any confusion:
bullion - a mass of precious metal
bouillon - a clear seasoned broth
Definitions from thefreedictionary.com

Another Supe Opera or something.

2009-04-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

...I don't know.
Click for full-size.

Today on Superhero Soap Opera (Supe Opera?)

2009-03-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

click for full-size

Oh my lord, it's the AdamZORD!

2009-03-14T14:00:00.001-07:00

This was made by my friend Barry.

Thanks!

EDIT: It's supposed to be an animated .gif; if it's not moving, click the image!

An Inconsequential Daily Happening of Dark Adam.

2009-03-06T22:35:00.000-08:00

I decided to redo an old Dark Adam comic from 2007. A few of my more recent posts have had the character, so I thought this might help to flesh out the character more... you know, in case I actually have any readers who haven't seen much of the guy.
Here's the original:

And here's the remake (click for full-sized goodness!):

Regarding the background: Oh, it's just a little something I came up with. Totally original, you know. I call it "Celestial Nocturne."

They call me the shepherd......

2009-02-23T17:24:00.000-08:00

....... 'cuz I heard dat, yo.

Pssh, who needs multiple panels?

2009-02-19T16:06:00.000-08:00

The Book of Sighs #10

2009-02-15T12:18:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day.

2009-02-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

This is for my female friends that love me... but don't "love" me.

I miss them.

I'm totally going to do it. Totally.

2009-02-12T15:21:00.000-08:00

I'm going to bring back The Book of Sighs. I took a bit of a hiatus when I ran out of the paper I had been using. Instead of buying more, I just stopped. But I'm going to start working on it again! I even bought paper!

And now that I've said this, I have to follow through... at least for a while.

In a show of good faith, I just made this.

Gingerbell's Birthday

2009-02-10T16:14:00.000-08:00

So, I drew this for a friend's birthday a couple of months ago.

No love for robots

2009-01-30T18:40:00.000-08:00

That's the title of this thing. It might not be great, but I felt like playing around in GIMP today. So, yeah, here's a post!

also, I've been thinking about writing recently. Doesn't mean I'll do it, but it's the thought that counts, right? Ha.

I'm back.

2009-01-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe! Number 6

2008-11-12T00:41:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the lack of updates. I have a job now, and when I'm not at it, I'm usually doing something with friends. So, life is cool... I just don't have as much time to draw things that I like enough to post.

New Banner

2008-10-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Okay, so now there's a new banner now. I think it might be a little too huge, but I otherwise like it... Do you?

Here are the previous banners... just so there will be something to look at in this post... you know, besides words.

The Book of Sighs #9

2008-10-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

To quote the Beatles: "Number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine
Number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine
Number nine, number nine, number nine, number nine
Number nine, number nine, number..."

Wait, is that his power, or...

2008-10-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

Don't ask to see his utility belt.

2008-10-14T15:14:00.000-07:00

This doubles as an autobiography.

The Book of Sighs #8

2008-10-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Medical School Can Never Prepare You for This...

2008-10-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

New image.

2008-10-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

Pencil, then ink, then scanned, then GIMPed.

The Book of Sighs #7

2008-09-30T11:53:00.001-07:00

The plot thickens (or, uh, appears, I guess)!

The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe! Number 5

2008-09-25T10:20:00.001-07:00

The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe! Number 4

2008-09-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

The Book of Sighs #6

2008-09-16T14:34:00.000-07:00

Clickedy-click this mug, yo.

The second comic with Evil Anti-Christ Barry! He made his debut in comic #2, if you don't remember... But I hope you DO remember, since a lot of strips will refer to past comics (i.e. the second panel here recalls the punchline of the second comic strip).

Also, hey, this is my fiftieth post! Sure, not every post has had quality material... but it still feels like an accomplishment. Now if I only had more readers...

In the next few days, look forward to another Winthorpe comic! Or, uh, don't look forward to it. Either way, it'll be there soon!

Fear!

2008-09-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice little GIMPed out comic for you.

The following paragraph contains no wit:

Speaking of fear, do you know what my primary fear was for the longest time? That I was seriously mentally deficient. I don't mean that I worried that I might not be at the top of my class; I speculated that I was even below the line of being "simple." I honestly feared that I was being humored when people said I was smart. Sure, I took advanced courses throughout grade school, but I never really thought I was intelligent. It was only a couple of years into college (which I was able to attend due to the Hope scholarship and good grades) that I finally said "Huh... maybe I AM kinda smart." I still find it hard to believe my friends when they say something like "you're probably the smartest person I know."

Okay, enough soul-baring or what-have-you.

The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe! Number 3

2008-09-08T14:35:00.000-07:00

This comic LOOKS a bit like "The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe! Number 2" at first glance, but it's totally different. Check it out, yo.

EDIT: I edited the image after reading the first comment. Dude was right.

Semi-Update

2008-09-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, yesterday and this morning I went back and polished up the Book of Sighs comics that I had already posted.

The changes: Reduced blur on the first two, darkened text on the first three, made the panel borders thicker on the first four.

I think they look better now... more like the fifth one, which I think turned out pretty well!

I'll post something new soon.

The Book of Sighs #5

2008-09-05T23:14:00.000-07:00

If the last line is confusing, then either you haven't read the first comic, or it's been a little while since you read it. Here's a quick link to the first page: The Book of Sighs #1

Semi-update!

2008-09-03T16:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I redrew my friend as a Smurf. Today I scanned it and did all the coloring in GIMP. So... it's something I've done before, but now it looks more like her usual drawn-self... Plus, now she looks a little shorter, which is good. Yeah... the secret was giving her stubby legs.

You can scroll down for the redrawn version (which still isn't mega-awesome), or you can forgo the scrolling by clicking right here

The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe! Number 2

2008-09-01T22:53:00.000-07:00

Click for full-size.

I decided that I liked that Winthorpe character I came up with a couple of weeks ago... so here's a second comic with him. Also featured in this comic is Cecil Mulligan the Crab. Mulligan (and his first line) is a recent creation of Jeff Burks, who is awesome enough to let me use the character as well.

The Book of Sighs #4

2008-08-27T14:46:00.001-07:00

As ALWAYS, click on the image for a better view of it.

Alright, here's the fourth. This one introduces Krystal, whose high-flying superhero name is The Shard. Her normal name was originally Krista, but, in the redesign, I changed the name a little bit to reflect her powers more (she can fly with huge wings made of glass crystals). This character was mostly based on a girl that I was in love with for several years, who is still a great friend of mine. Let's see, what else? Oh yeah, this is the second redesign for this character. When she was first created back in 2000 or so, her costume was pretty awful.

ALSO, I've gone back and added gray to the previous Book of Sighs comics. I think it looks better without there being such an immense amount of white space. Anyone else think that it looks better this new way?

Wrote something today.

2008-08-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

I was bored today, so I decided to try my hand at writing again. This is what I came up with

Ashes by Adam Lanier

I pour more cream into my stale coffee -- stir it and make phantom images appear and dissolve into a pale liquid. I finally mumble the nagging thought that's been ricocheting throughout every part of me for the past few weeks: “I miss her.” Wilfred's cigarette falls, unlit, from his mouth. It lands beside his shoe, next to a smattering of butts and a fair sprinkling of ash. I sip my coffee which is already cold. Still too bitter.

“You're kidding, right?”

I swirl my coffee around the waxen cup. Tiny grounds float to the top, shifting like snowflakes. They seem just about as cold. I stare at them instead of answering my best friend.

“Course you're joking. After all that's happened...” he trails off, fishing another cigarette from his pack. I hear his lighter, and after a moment, smell the rich, burnt, smoke. I continue meditating on the cup of joe, willing myself to take another drink. I sigh.

“Fine, whatever,” he punctuates with a cloud of smoke. “But what's to miss? I mean, really?”

I look up at him, his hair tousled by the morning breeze. I have plenty of answers, but no words to go along with them. “I dunno.”

“Look, that whole period was messed up. But it's over now. Thank god.” He taps ash from his cigarette. It falls slowly through our mesh table and falls to the concrete below us. “It's time to move on.”

“But there's more to it than...”

“No. There's nothing else to it. Everything she touched she destroyed. It ended the best way it could have.” He lapses into silence, smoking and looking out far into the distance, and at nothing at all.

“She changed my life, Will, and I got rid of her.” I look down at the ashes by my feet.

Wilfred clears his throat, or maybe it's a scoff. “But if you hadn't...”

“Yeah, if I hadn't. Then my life would be more exciting. Different. Maybe I wouldn't always feel so lost.” This is the first time I've openly talked about her, and the words come haltingly and with difficulty. “I... I never knew what to expect from her. From the very beginning, I was clueless. And maybe she would have changed. Did I really ever give her a chance, Will? With everything I've learned... If I just had another chance, but with what I know now... Didn't she deserve another chance?” I look down at my hands, still clutching the half-empty cup. “Maybe I'm the bad guy.”

“You're not the bad guy. And I hope you realize that you're not the only one she hurt. You gave her plenty of chances. But she never took them; she tore down everything you built up.”

“Everything that's torn down can be rebuilt.”

“Yeah, doctor, I know." He pauses to take another drag off his cigarette. "That's why I think you and the city will be alright.”

We look across the street at the pile of rubble that used to be a series of sky scrapers. The ashes dance in the wind.

If you watch one video this year...

2008-08-23T11:08:00.000-07:00

...it really shouldn't be this one. This short and silly mockumentary thing is something I made a bit back with a couple of pals. Believe it or not, it was part of a job application.

I'm not the biggest fan of this video, but I guess it belongs on the blog.
Enjoy!

The Wacky Adventures of Winthorpe!

2008-08-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

...I don't know what to say about this.

I wrote an Anne Rice Novel

2008-08-20T14:51:00.000-07:00

So, Anne Rice no longer writes vampire stories. It doesn't really affect me because I was never a fan. But it seems that lots of people LOVED her blood-sucking tales. I know, I know, but it's true.

So, in order to make the world a better place for Anne Rice fans, I decided to come up with my own tale -- one that is comparable to the originals, with strange characters dressed in fancy clothes and whatnot. What gives me the right? Because I've read a couple of her books, when they were the only things I could find. And even though I didn't like them, I'm pretty sure it makes me an expert on the subject.

So, one last thing to say before I post my illustrated novel: It turns out that you don't need Anne Rice in order to write an Anne Rice Vampire Chronicle.

come on, party people.

2008-08-17T22:26:00.001-07:00

There will be comics at the bottom of this post... so, if you want, you can skip ahead.

Yo. This past Saturday, I actually did something of interest! I went to a party in Atlanta. Now, Adam, you may be saying, Now, Adam, that just doesn't make any sense; You're a homebody-homeboy. You don't go to "parties," you merely chillax with your small, rag-tag group of cool peeps.
Normally, italic text, you would be correct. But I really did go to a party in Atlanta! Honestly! You see, I recently started talking to an old pal from high school via the internet, so, after a few phone conversations Wait a second... You? Calling someone other than the usual three people?
...

Yes. Jerk. Um yeah, so, anyways, we chatted and made plans, so I cranked up my tiny woody station wagon, and drove to see her.

By means of describing the party, I'll post what I had to say about it to a friend of mine the day after.

Warning, this might be a little longish... You don't have to read all this:

Maxwell Tyndan(12:05:52 AM): I hope you don' get home early enough to tell me how it went, but if you do... do.

Saddest Factory (4:55:01 AM)[<-- that's me!]: not too much to tell. Just getting in. Bushed. Fairly decent time. Wasn't a studio party; I must've misheard. Allison's still hot, and silly. I was awkward, but not as awkward as I would have been years ago. Some cool and friendly people there that would initiate/include me in conversations..
Maxwell Tyndan (2:03:05 PM): That's cool, what kind of party was it then?
Saddest Factory (2:03:18 PM): kegger
Maxwell Tyndan (2:03:27 PM): Haha That's great.
Saddest Factory (2:04:04 PM): yeah, kinda was.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:04:27 PM): What was the occasion?
Saddest Factory (2:05:24 PM): Dual purpose. Some dude named Sean's birthday party, and back to college, I think.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:05:54 PM): Ah. But it went well though? That's pretty awesome
Saddest Factory (2:06:08 PM): yeah, it went pretty well.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:06:20 PM): Allison have a boyfriend?
Saddest Factory (2:06:34 PM): yeah. Some dude named Sean.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:06:41 PM): Haha, same party guy?
Saddest Factory (2:06:56 PM): *sigh* yeah.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:07:11 PM): Good times. Did you meet any nice ladies?
Saddest Factory (2:07:50 PM): yeah, a few. Small talk was sometimes exchanged. Had a nice conversation with Allison's sister Madison.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:08:42 PM): She as hot as Allison?
Saddest Factory (2:10:32 PM): in some ways, yes. Kinda different hot, but still very hot. She's not as, I dunno, built (cuz Allison's not exactly "thick")[Allison is a tall, Amazonian Goddess], she's more of the fairly skinny gal type. And her hair is a nice brown instead of Allison's reddish awesomeness. They have the same way of talking; that same lilt to the voice. And they look a good deal alike in the face. So very hot.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:11:35 PM): Ah, sexy. Man, sounds like you had an awesome time.
Saddest Factory (2:12:30 PM): For someone as awkward as me, yeah, I think I had fairly close to what could be the best time imaginable with people I didn't know... save for a couple of peeps.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:12:59 PM): Hm?
Saddest Factory (2:13:36 PM): Well, Allison. And then some girl that knew me, that played soccer with Allison. I didn't really remember her though... [I was pretty oblivious in high school] didn't tell her that. Really tall blonde. Very sweet. Can't remember the name though.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:14:31 PM): Emily? No, she played tennis...
Saddest Factory (2:15:03 PM): I think Allison said she was a grade above us.[Maybe it was a year younger?]
Maxwell Tyndan (2:15:27 PM): Ah. And you don't remember her name now? [Her name must've been Lauren or something]
Saddest Factory (2:15:56 PM): I'm pretty bad with names sometimes. Took me forever to remember Madison's name. I knew it started with Ma... Madeline? Matilda? No, those aren't it at all! Took me, like, twenty minutes to remember it last night after I had been introduced.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:17:32 PM): So every girl you talked to last night had a boyfriend, I assume.
Saddest Factory (2:17:52 PM): yeah, it seemed that way. It was a kinda small get-together though [though larger than any party I had ever gone to before, probably]. It wasn't a huge bash, so it's honestly to be expected.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:18:46 PM): You should have told Allison to point you towards the single chicks. that's what girls who have boyfriends who invite you to parties are for.
Saddest Factory (2:19:12 PM): maybe next time. Providing that there is a next time.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:19:44 PM): Sounds like you didn't make yourself out to be boring.
Saddest Factory (2:20:39 PM): I tried to be pretty much be myself. Chimed in with things at times. Often I was aloof. just as should be expected. awkward, but trying.
Maxwell Tyndan (2:20:57 PM): Awesome, awesome. Whatever works. I'm sure no one thought you were a tool, because you aren't. so you had that going for you.

And now, here are some things I've drawn!

This was taken from a panel of a comic that otherwise ended up looking pretty crappy. It's half pencil/pen-drawn, half mouse-drawn in GIMP.

The first picture was from the original version of this comic here. The comic was initially drawn before the party. I didn't like how it looked, so I redid it after the fact, but kept the message the same. It would be keen if you clicked on the picture to read it.

And this is one of the several awkward moments I had at the party! Click it to read it easier.

But honestly, I had a pretty swell time. Some really nice and neat people there. It seemed like some of them would actually go out of their way to make me feel involved. Goodness knows that Allison introduced me to a lot of people, and told them introductory anecdotes about me. Really a very kind thing to do.

Oh! And I learned how to play beer pong and flip-cup.

The Book of Sighs #3

2008-08-13T22:14:00.001-07:00

And now, I ramble... You don't have to read the following, it's not vitally important!

Alright, here's the third comic!
This comic introduces the Axe God, the mythical guitarist. This character is unique in the way that he was created. Some years ago, I was talking to a friend of mine about what a character somewhat based on him should look like. All he said was that it should have horns and fangs. Axe God is what I came up with.

The concept design hasn't changed, but the execution is much better now, I like to believe. It's like, lets say you drew a picture of an apple when you were six, then you drew one yesterday. It's still going to be roughly orb shaped, with, most likely, a little stem with a leaf on it... but, chances are, the one you drew yesterday is going to look a lot better.

Classy People

2008-08-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

So, this past Thursday, I was doodling in a sketchbook. I started off randomly sketching a person... it turned into a representation of myself. Then I added all my friends that I was hanging out with that night... to make myself seem a little less vain. What's more, I made us all very classy!

the cast: TJ with a cup of tea, Barry with a monocle and pipe, Myself with a scarf and bubble pipe, Krista with a champagne flute full of poison, a surly-looking Jake with turtleneck and a blazer, and Doug with a bowtie and tin of caviar.

Yes, we're all awesome.

The Book of Sighs #2

2008-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ah, yes, the second comic... funnier than the first, to be sure. This strip introduces Evil Anti-Christ Barry. This character was created for a friend of mine, who, despite being a good Christian, would also make for a great dictator. Evil Anti-Christ Barry is an exaggeration of a caricature of my pal Barry.

...although, the real person has changed a bit over time... Still though, I don't think he'd do what the fictional character does.

Haha, anyway, this character also underwent some pretty noticeable cosmetic changes from the original design. Maybe I'll draw both versions like I did with Silent C. Anyway, I've rambled far too much, and I hope the comic is enjoyed.

past and present

2008-07-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, last post I said I'd show you what Silent C used to look like. So, here it is. Umm... can't think of anything else to say about it at the moment.

The Book of Sighs

2008-07-23T23:50:00.000-07:00

Oh snap, yo! It's the Book of Sighs! This is the first page! This, right here! It's about a hapless guy with no face called Silent C! Click it and read it!

The original page of this series (instead of individual strips or drawings) was drawn in November (I think) of 2004. The character looked different, the art style was even worse than it is now, and the dialog was a tiny bit different. There's more to come! Tomorrow (or soon, regardless) I might post something showing how different Silent C used to look versus his revised appearance. Woo!

Late Night Paint

2008-07-18T23:58:00.000-07:00

Here's something I just whipped up at around three am in MS Paint. Also, I drew a test page for The Book of Sighs, but it doesn't scan well (it's in pencil, and in a hardbound book... It turns out that neither of those conditions are optimal for scanning!)

coming soon...

2008-07-15T21:29:00.000-07:00

Back in 2002 and thereabouts, I drew a comic strip that I called "The Book of Sighs." It revolved around a character named Silent C (who had no face) and his friends, all of which were super-heroes (with maybe a villain or two). To this day, I think that my best attempts at humor lie in those old pages. The humor was silly, the characters were far-fetched, and there was the ever-present melancholy. When I look at my more recent comics, I see a trend for lighter, more realistic comedy. ...And frankly, it doesn't seem as worth-while. In my attempts to mature my story-telling, I've been using a different type of humor. It's not bad (I've been told), it's just, well, different. Well, I say it's time to bring back the old comics, redrawn with my somewhat improved skills.

I'll still continue my other comic, if I can get past a little writer's block, but I'm looking forward to getting my pencils back to what I consider my definitive series.

Maybe you'll look forward to it as well.

Gargamel's Spy

2008-06-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is a drawing of my friend. She sometimes wears blue. She is short. Also, she is madly in love with me (but don't tell her I told you, she'll just deny it).

This post was edited on September 3rd. The original image looked like this, only bigger:

Now to save the... er... Other princess!

2008-06-22T15:49:00.001-07:00

A Saddest Factory Comic 5

2008-06-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

This took me a while because I apparently forgot how to draw for a few days. AAANNNDDD it was funnier in my head... especially since it's pretty much true.

Sleuth!

2008-06-14T18:16:00.000-07:00

Click that bad boy!

A Saddest Factory Comic 4

2008-06-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

I really need to come up with a better title than "A Saddest Factory Comic" for these things. Don't want to break fourth wall and such with the name, you know. Also, I've pickled myself (put myself in a pickle) because the main character is fictional (but based on me obviously)... and now whenever my vanity causes me to draw myself, I draw that character which isn't technically supposed to be me. Man, life is tough for an artist, huh?

Here's the latest. I finally inked it and then put it together in GIMP. Click it, why do not you (wow, that phrase is odd without the contraction)?

Also, someone has subscribed to my RSS Feed. Yes, I'm so awesome!

Now to save the princess!

2008-06-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

This won't make any sense...

2008-06-09T13:35:00.001-07:00

...if you're unfamiliar with Nedroid.

This comic is in response to this comic

And this one is in response to: this comic

Quack

2008-06-04T20:49:00.000-07:00

I've drawn the next comic in the series... but I haven't inked it like I've been doing, and have been instead trying to figure out GIMP (freeware equivalent of photoshop that I was directed to by Phil). It's complex! It might take me a while to figure it out, but hopefully I'll be able to start using that instead of the basic paint program for comics and such things.

But I really wanted to update the blog, so I cheated and used Paint to quickly crank out what is below this text:

A Saddest Factory Comic 3

2008-05-31T22:23:00.000-07:00

Because nobody demanded it, here's the latest! Click it, why don't you?

Also, here is one of my dogs. It's meant to be kinda cartoony... but somehow it doesn't come across that way... So it's neither cartoonish or realistic. What it is, however, is Sophie!

Post Apocalyptic!

2008-05-29T01:50:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I was browsing through Livejournal artists, and, similar to the Teen Meme, I found a place where lots of people were posting themselves as survivors in a post- apocalyptic world. I decided to do one... so I spent entirely too much time on it, and drew it with merely a mouse in MS Paint. It's huge (once you click it), but I'm exhausted right now, and don't care to resize it.

...but since I'm such a nice guy, I'll also give you a black and white one... which was last saved before a lot more was done to the background... and I will resize it a bit. It's still kinda big, and you should still click it.

I thought about adding speech or thought bubbles, with me thinking/saying something like "Seriously, guys, just let me grab some groceries and I'll leave," but then decided that I'd actually try to make it seem more like a comic book cover than a mere panel.

Me... Six, Seven Years Ago.

2008-05-28T13:06:00.001-07:00

A popular thing that has been going around (or it used to go around, I'm not sure), is the Teen Meme. This is where an artist will draw how they looked as a teenager next to how they look now.

Here's mine. I'm quite different from how I used to be, but I like to think that the teen-me would approve of the now-me.

If I'm ever successful

2008-05-26T16:50:00.001-07:00

You know what I would do if I were ever to become successful to the point of financial security? I would experiment. Not with drugs or lifestyles, but with cheese.

I love cheese but, honestly, I've only tried a handful of varieties. Sure, I've had Swiss, Cheddar, Feta, Monterey Jack, Mozzarella, Ricotta, Cottage, Pimento, Parmesan, Muenster, Provolone, and American, but there are many more types out there in the great Cheese Spectrum which I've never tasted. Just check out this Wikipedia list!

Man, that's a lot of cheese. And I want to try them all, to taste the subtle differences, to be a connoisseur.

But first I must become successful.

Until then, I can only dream.

Dream of cheeses.

A Saddest Factory Comic 2

2008-05-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

Here's number two... I still need a name for the male character though... I'm thinking maybe Nick, but I'm really not sure. Any suggestions?

MS Paint Pieces

2008-05-23T22:53:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, or sometime also relatively soon, I'll scan and post the second comic strip about the guy what is going on a date. But tonight you get two things I churned out in my basic paint program. They're just random little things that I made and happened to like.

Congratulations on graduations.

2008-05-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Two very good friends of mine graduated recently. I drew a comic for the one that is female. I did this because I would much rather get into her pants than I would Doug's.

Here's the comic!

(If anyone wants me to post the other The Inconsequential Daily Happenings of Dark Adam comics that were published in the school paper, then just say the word, and I'll slap them up here.)

True story

2008-05-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

It was drawn very quickly... but I just thought everyone would like to learn how about how I saved Christm...er, May 16th.

...stupid nose.

Also, I'll work more on the comic with the guy on a date soon... this short strip was just a little break from the actual storyline.

A Saddest Factory Comic

2008-05-13T17:44:00.000-07:00

Alright, the scanner is up and running once more. That being the case, here's something special: A comic that I drew in a different manner than usual. Instead of just using a single pencil (or maybe an additional blue colored pencil for guidelines), I used inks that my favorite professor gave me for my college graduation. Plus I drew each panel independently on a separate sheet of paper, and then resized and moved them around in MS Paint.

Let me know what you think. Is it witty, or humdrum?

(Click for a larger (i.e. readable) version.)

Personality Test

2008-05-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

I enjoy taking Personality Tests sometimes (...even though they also bring about a touch of sadness for some reason). Here's one that I found recently. You can click where it says "full Personality Report" for much more detail.

My Personality


Neuroticism	61
Extraversion	18
Openness to Experience	73
Agreeableness	99
Conscientiousness	61

You rarely get angry and it takes a lot to make you angry, however you tend to lack energy and have difficult initiating activities. You lead a leisurely and relaxed life. You would prefer to sit back and smell the roses than indulge in high energy activities. You prefer facts over fantasy and are more interested in what is happening in the real word. You do not like to claim that you are better than other people, and generally shy from talking yourself up, however you dislike confrontations and are perfectly willing to compromise or to deny your own needs in order to get along with others. You have a strong sense of duty and obligation, and feel a moral obligation to do the right thing.

Take a Personality Test now or view the full Personality Report.

UK ugg boots

So, yeah, that's me, I guess. Anyone else want to take it and share their results?

Sad Songs

2008-05-10T23:32:00.000-07:00

Hi! I just thought it would be interesting if I shared some of my favorite sad songs with you, gentle reader. You might be surprised.

I know that I could list some obscure things that most people have ever heard of, but where would the fun be in that? So, I've chosen some that maybe you've heard before, and if you haven't, well, I've included videos.

First off, there's Bastards of Young, by The Replacements. This one gets more of an honorable mention rather than a space at the very top. It has sad elements, and has tugged on the heartstrings a bit, but I can also just listen to it and think "Ah, Groovy." Especially poignant are the lines "The ones [that] love us best, are the ones we'll lay to rest, and visit their graves on holidays at best. The Ones [that] love us least, are the ones we'll die to please, if it's any consolation, I don't begin to understand them."

Next up, we have Glycerine, by Bush. It just sounds so melancholy. This song is definitely in my top five sad songs. The strings give it such a lonely air. Memorable lyrics: "I needed you more, you wanted us less, could not kiss, just regress. It might just be clear simple and plain, but that's just fine, that's just one of my names."

My number one saddest song might cause some strange looks or chuckles though. Holding the spot at number one for tunes which depress me (but in that good way that makes me keep listening) is Rainbow Connection, by the immortal Kermit The Frog. "Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection; The lovers, the dreamers... and me." Something about the tone suggests that while Kermit hopes to find the answers to happiness (the Rainbow Connection), he doesn't truly expect to. There is a deep longing there.

Ocean Blues, a piece of fiction.

2008-05-07T15:17:00.001-07:00

All matter as we know it was created in the Big Bang. We see the remnants of the universe's great expansion every time we gaze upon the stars. They appear immobile to our ephemeral eyes, yet they silently stream across the heavens at speeds too fast for comprehension, moving further and further from some initial point, some universal answer to their existence. And here, on Earth, all life has emerged from the sea. We are drawn to it, and countless civilizations have flourished on it's shores. Maybe that's why a coastline at night stirs something within us.

Several years ago, during my college days, I went to Florida with some classmates for spring break. By this point in my life, it was already well-established that I would but rarely drink and preferred to always be in control of my faculties. These teetotaler ways of mine, coupled with being a mutual friend to everyone on the trip, undeniably played a part in securing me a seat in Jeff's old station wagon for the seven hour ride to the ocean.
There were five of us total. There was Jeff Codby, the unquestionable leader of our troupe with an infectious good-nature, and Tom Davidson, a foot-baller with a good head on his broad shoulders and an unhidden love for botany. There was Eric Worth, a very intelligent young man with absolutely no drive to succeed or study, and there was Daniel Winters, who, despite belonging to very wealthy family, lumped himself with us and looked forward to working for a living, even if it was in a laboratory. And of course there was me, Anthony Landis, the introspective model student and designated driver.

One of my fondest memories from the trip involved me taking over my duties as designated driver on the very night that we arrived. Eric, no taller than 5'7, and no heavier than a hundred-thirty pounds soaking wet, challenged Tom Davidson to a drinking contest. Tom, it should be mentioned, stood 6'2 and weighed near 300 pounds of solid muscle. After three mugs of beer each, Eric began to slur his words very noticeably, and Tom confessed to being “a little less thirsty than before.” Across the bar, Jeff spent his time trying to impress some female vacationers with his pinball skills and personal charm, while at the same time, Daniel tried to impress the same girls with his ability to buy them drinks. He never once mentioned his social status, but kept the taps running.

At the end of the night, we had only been to the one bar, and the only one in our ranks that was completely smashed was Eric, who was easily carried to the car by Tom(Tom, it should be mentioned, had developed nothing more than a touch of uncertainty in his tread). I drove the group to our motel smiling faintly as Jeff and Daniel recounted how they made plans to meet back up with the girls they had met.

The next two nights saw me again chauffeuring the crew around, and by the fourth night, it seemed like my good-natured sobriety was being required a bit too often. I had fully expected to be the designated driver, but for some reason I hadn't expected my comrades to end up drunken every night after the first, and to need my services throughout the daylight hours. What complicated matters was that not everyone in the group had the same plans each day. There were times when I'd drive Jeff to one bar, and then would take Tom to a volleyball tournament, only to turn around and drop off Eric and Daniel at a motel to meet someone. To my further dismay, after taking everyone to their perspective destinations, I would always end up driving back to the motel to wait for calls requesting me to pick them back up. As I've said, by the fourth night, I was wearied. I, in a move quite uncharacteristic of me, voiced this sentiment to Jeff. It was not taken lightly, and I was assured that the next night (our last night to be there) I would be free to do anything I wanted.

The following day came quickly enough, and my peers all found other ways to get about during the day while I read an improving book out in the sunlight and sand. Later, I brought out my pencils, and sketched the sunset as it crept into the sky, and when the stars eventually came out, I began to walk. I simply meandered, slowly taking in the vastness of the stars. At the same time, my thoughts also turned inward, and I began to think about how insignificant we all are in the vastness of space. And I thought about how nothing we do could ever possibly matter in any kind of grand scheme. And, yes, I doubted that, given the infinity of space, that there could even exist a grand scheme. But at the same time, I saw that such beauty and structure could hardly be random! I looked upon my own life's actions: I had made no real accomplishments beyond those of academia, I had seen very little of the world, I had never known real love, my youth was very dull and common, etcetera, ad infinitum. But in the vastness of it all, these facts were trivial. I could exceed in every field and still it could not matter to the universe. It only made a difference in my own mind. And yet... and yet, there seemed to be something more, if I could only grasp it. It was then that I heard my name, called out, as if from some great distance. I turned and looked back towards the lights of the city which were drowning out the stars above.

A figure was heading my way, and after hearing my name again, I determined that it was Daniel. Behind him, further back, I could just make out the others. I waited for them, and when they had all caught up, they told me why they had sought me. There was a carnival out on the docks. It had just started that night, and this was the only opportunity to see it. I politely mentioned how I was supposed to be free of my duties tonight. Jeff answered for the rest of them, saying how the docks were within walking distance and that I wouldn't have to drive. I didn't understand at first, but after a bit more conversing, I realized they wanted me to be the designated walker! I was being asked to make sure that they didn't get completely smashed only to end up walking the wrong way back to the motel, or that they didn't pass out on the beach and get carried away during high tide.

I tried to shirk the responsibility using levity. Their cries of “Let's go the fair” were met by my “I'm sorry, but I'm not a very fair person,” and “You go on without me, I don't fare well.” All I wanted to do was to continue my study of the seas and stars. I felt that if I could just continue, some great puzzle piece would fall into place. I would understand my role in existence, I could figure out my destiny, I would learn the meaning of life, so to speak. And yet, the group all continued their entreaties. They were dead set on going to the jetty, and they desperately wanted me to go along with them. They assured me that I would have a great time, and said that even if they weren't drinking, they would still want me to go with them. They didn't understand how close I felt to finding some great peace and understanding, and I lacked the words to explain. Eventually, their request for my attendance at the docks was little more than a chant. I sighed, and told them I would go.

I actually had fun, I'll admit it. But at the same time, I still have yet to find the answers that seemed so close that night. Some nights, I lie awake and wonder how my life would be different if I had stayed behind, if I hadn't gone to the silly carnival on the docks. Even today I feel remorse for the knowledge I never learned, and for what seemed like my decision to remain ignorant.

All I can do is simply wonder how my life might have turned out differently if I hadn't given in to their request that I join them along the jetty.

Oh, if only I hadn't given in to pier pressure!

Two Images

2008-04-29T22:20:00.000-07:00

First is something I drew quite a while back. The second is something I drew very quickly in Paint pretty recently. I had thought about posting a story, and even wrote a good chunk of it today... but then I realized that the length of the thing might put people off, considering this is just a silly little blog. The tale is currently about a page in length, and probably has another full page to go. I might go ahead and finish the story later, and post it here... or I might try to make it more concise... We'll see. For now, here are the images.

Future Updates

2008-04-21T12:06:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I'm going to find some way to update my blog at least once a week. I might just post silly little nothings, or a hastily drawn sketch (probably from MS Paint... I still don't know what's wrong with the scanner). For right now, I think I'll try brushing off my writing abilities and change a one-panel comic I drew quite a while back into a short short-story.
So, here it goes (keep in mind that this is a spur of the moment thing... so it won't be perfect by any means):

If these walls could talk

Linda and Will were of that rare type of relationship which grew from adolescent camaraderie into something more mature. They were best friends since meeting in third grade, and one moonlit night three years ago, they became that and more. Under the stars, they had come to the realization that they couldn't bear the thought of ever being without each other. They had never even kissed before that night, but for some reason the planets aligned, their hearts beat faster, and their eyes opened.

Now Linda clings to Will's arm. They are newlywed, and the stars still shine bright in their young eyes. Today they are moving into their new house. They try to suppress their anxiety. This will be their first time entering the old, modest construction rather than viewing it through photographs. It may have been a brash move to make, but the price was right, and they are eager to start a life all their own. Once the paperwork was finished, they hopped a plane and now they stand just outside their very own home, surveying the foundation of their future. Will opens the front door and peers in hesitantly. Linda takes advantage of his turned back, and uses all her might to lift him off the ground. She carries him past the threshold. Will laughs, but isn't wholly surprised. On their short, cheap honeymoon Linda had sworn she wouldn't stand for being carried through every new door the two of them crossed together. This was just payback.

Once nestled in the gloom of the house, Linda sets her husband down and tries to regain her composure (and breath). They smile at each other, Will still laughing. It is then that they hear it: a strange, almost groaning sound. The couple's bodies go rigid, their eyes go wide. They both hear it -- something resembling a voice in the vaguely metallic noise. It doesn't last long, and when silence begins to seem certain, Will asks "Did you hear what I did?" Linda shrugs, her eyes still wide; she doesn't know what she's just heard. The noise starts again. This time it sounds less like something clanging against old steel, and has an eerie creaking sound. Will and Linda huddle together silently, listening hard, trying to discern some meaning in the noise. This time the voice is more apparent and they hear the words. As soon as the creaking voice ceases, Will takes his wife by the hand, and they run out the door.

By the road, next to many of their worldly possessions they look at each other, dazed and pale.

"What was that!?" Linda pleads.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out right now." Will pulls out his cell phone and calls the real estate agent. "Jared, this is Will Barter..."

"Oh, Mister Barter! How do you and the misses like the house?"

"That's what I've called you about! I'm telling you, this place is haunted! My wife and I just heard... things."

"What's that? It's nothing, I'm sure. Old houses make lots of noises. Old pipes, old, strong wood."

"You don't understand! There was a voice from nowhere!"

"A voice, Mister Barter?"

"Yes, Jared, a voice! The first time I think it said 'good enough, I suppose.' How do you explain that?"

"Oh, that! Don't worry about that," Jared Green replies sagely.

Will looks at his wife, far paler than usual, shivering in the summertime. He draws her close to him, and presses the button on his cell to turn on speaker phone. If there's a good explanation, he wants, he needs, his wife to hear it. "Okay, Jared, maybe I imagined the first one, but the second time, I'm sure there was a voice that said 'Well, alright... I guess... that's fine... really...' Now, why, how, would our house say something like that?!"

"Like I've said: It's an old house, Mr. Barter. What you heard was the house settling."

Here's the deal...

2008-04-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

The scanner still doesn't scan. Also, I haven't drawn anything particularly funny or jaw-droppingly amazing anyway. However, I am writing a story (which is a little odd for me), or at least I'm trying. After I finish (IF I finish) this new project, I'll most likely post it here. So, honestly, I don't know when I'll finish it or what its length will be.
I'm also doing some art to go with the story. I'm thinking, currently, that the sketches are just a way for me to visualize my characters better and might only be posted afterwards as "concept art," but at this stage it isn't unreasonable to think that they could actually be part of the story. I don't know.

I wish I had amazing and interesting things to tell you (whoever "you" are), and maybe I'll think up some ultra-witty topics later on. But for now, this post is all you get.
Hope you enjoyed it.

Peace,
the Saddest Factory Artist,
Adam.

The Arts.

2008-04-04T12:18:00.000-07:00

This is one of those random attempts at wit.

It seems to me that I'll never have the wealth, social standings or grace to ever truly be a patron of the arts. However, I do think that I could make it as a patronizer of the arts.

Due to a temporary lack of scanner, this was drawn by mouse in MS Paint... Also, I think it looks better if you actually click it and view it at a larger size.

A self-portait, drawn by mouse in MS Paint

2008-04-02T21:11:00.000-07:00

An Odd Comic I've Drawn

2008-03-30T15:19:00.000-07:00

MS Paint, Camera Phone, and a Pencil

2008-03-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

I wanted to go ahead and add a little content to the blog, so here's something I made last month, the night before Valentine's Day. Hopefully, if you click it, it will be the right size.

The Saddest Factory Blog

2008-03-25T18:34:00.000-07:00

In an attempt to be hip, this blog has been created to host many Saddest Factory sketches and ramblings. Not being particularly well-versed in html, this may become a herculean task. Also, notice how in this very first post there is already an undesirable air of pretension.

Apologies.

Seems as though everything is off to a satisfactory start.