BAD KATANA STUDIO
Digital media portfolio
ARTIST — ANTHONY LIDDELL
Artist Biography
Anthony Liddell is originally from the southeast United States, but has also lived in the Midwest and Alaska during military assignments. Travel to several world locations has exposed him to other ways of life. Anthony took drawing lessons as a child and later enjoyed classes on perspective and photography in a gifted student program. He joined an introductory art class in high school and studied Art History I in junior college, but never went beyond the basics. Now, he draws inspiration for art from popular culture (especially fantasy, science fiction, and horror), ancient writings, and observation of animal life. His earlier university studies in literature, religion, and astronomy, help him garnish the primary scenes he portrays. He believes learning more about the world, it's peoples and their lives, adds layers of richness to every future experience. He is currently attending Arizona State University and is pursuing a minor in Animation.
Artist Statement
Anthony is an artist who is just now spreading his wings by learning the modern digital tools and creative possibilities of the artist. He has produced work in the various media formats from images to audio to video. His desire is to blend the media in order to multiply the effect upon the viewer. Among all media, audio is his favorite for the powerful enhancement it brings to the presentation of imagery. His vision is sometimes comical, sometimes dark, but always powerful and evocative. He wishes that everyone would enjoy his artwork, but believes it is successful if it simply makes the audience member feel something strongly.
The Real Monsters Awaken (Sci-Fi World)
Anthony Liddell
Digital Art (Composite)
2024
CONCEPT & STATEMENT
This image is created to show a dark future possibility in a nuclear wasteland. The large bugs, some of which prey on humans, are only science fiction, for now. The background image is of a man in a hazmat suit hiding at what is supposed to be Chernobyl. I found this image on Wikimedia Commons. All links to found images are given below. The reason I used this idea was that I had taken several insect photos around my house that I wanted to use on the project image. The spider, weevil, and praying mantis are all my original images. I tried to find a way to use them without them being menacing, but they grew in my mind through radioactive contamination into monsters. Fortunately, for the man hiding, his friend has a powerful rifle to use in defense. This is a use of a first person shooter game weapon found on the internet to give the perspective that there is action in the image. The humans plan to either retreat or move farther into the accursed compound. There might be worse horrors that await. What if humans have been changed?
The borrowed images can be found at:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dzień_5_Czarnobyl_Chernobyl.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Freedoom_aaa.png
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_Laser.jpg
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fire_explosions.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chernobyl_Exclusion_Zone_(2015)_04.JPG
They Outgrew Their World (Landscape Concept)
Anthony Liddell
Digital Art (Composite)
2024
PNG Un-cropped Vector Art
Click Image for PDF
CONCEPT & STATEMENT
Beings in another world struggled for millenia under the hardships placed upon them by a powerful entity residing in their dark star. There is a way to break free. There is power eternal for the one who uncovers the knowledge. The overlord reasons deep within his nuclear fortress that these beings could live a trillion lifetimes and never find this means to overthrow him. The only constant across the universe, however, is change. There is a new power erupting from the planet's surface. This one found the answer. The rage of his people is funneled through this first attack. Today, he will open the heart of the star and remove the diseased-minded oppressor to cast him into the cold vortex of the void. I used a picture of bodybuilder Kai Greene to build my alien. Kai's powerful pose looks like someone who has realized his strength and is ready to attack. Image tracing and effects give the look of an invisibe energy being. Then, polygonal shapes show the fields of power that envelop the beings as shields, giving them an almost physical structure. The surface of these fields is stronger than anything we have touched on earth.
The image used for tracing can be found at: https://www.greatestphysiques.com/male-physiques/kai-greene/
A Visit to ACME Wood Things (SoundWalk Concept)
Anthony Liddell
Digital Art (Composite)
2024
CONCEPT & STATEMENT
This sound walk allows the listener to tour the inner workings of a fictional furniture manufacturer. The narration comes from the tour guide, who is also the proud generational owner of the business. The recordings are all live. The tool sounds are almost always real. I did the voice over with a sinus infection, and I think it sounds somewhat like Bill Murray. There are shop noises in the background. The owner and woodworker takes the visitor through several workstations where he, with the help of his assistant Walter, cuts, assembles, and finishes a stool. The feeling of the narration and sometimes odd tool sounds gives this sound walk a campy tone.
3.14159th Sense (Parody Trailer Video)
Anthony Liddell
Digital Art (Composite)
2024
CONCEPT & STATEMENT
This parody trailer of the movie Sixth Sense's trailer swaps the thing that the boy named Cole secretly sees for nerdy people. Cole is disturbed because he finds himself singularly capable of spotting nerds who walk among the regular people. I am a nerd by trade and hobby, so I poked a little fun at all of us who like to dig a little too deep in the things that don't matter to the cool people. My family helped with all the acting and even the sawing cello music.
What Should I Do? (Stop Motion Animation)
Anthony Liddell
Digital Art (Composite)
2024
CONCEPT & STATEMENT
For this animation, I planned to make several paper toys (like origami) that most people are familiar with from early school days. When I started with the fortune teller folding, I decided that I could make it give a fortune that is interesting. What does a guy want from his fortune when he is out of high school? Maybe, it is a fast car or physical fitness or a trip to an exciting place. The last option, and the one that the person whose shoulder we are overlooking chooses is that he can visit family. Then, he decides to write home and to share a flash drive with an animation of how to make the fortune teller paper toy. It all goes in an envelope and is ready for the mail. The story takes an unexpected twist, and the ending is meant to be a little emotional for all of us who are not home as much as we would like to be.