Sweep the Leg (up-scaled version) Pete Mitchell 2021-01-17 | This video was the most fun I ever had in my life. It's hard to believe it was 15 years ago. I've had tons of requests for a higher quality upload, since the original was such low resolution. The best I can do for now it this up-scaled version. It's not perfect, but it should do until I get my grubby little hands on the original footage!
Studio Vlog 17: Is it time to make a new game? Pete Mitchell 2024-09-22 | Lately I've been reflecting on my childhood excitement for gaming. Early on, we got a Commodore 64 and it instantly inspired me to create games. I roughly learned to program by copying game code from magazines. Years later I experimented with Flash to develop interactive games.After a hiatus from game development, I discovered GameMaker, which reignited my passion for making games. I reluctantly joined a game jam, which ended up being a great way to jump back into game making. So I recently started a new project, a space farming game, and was instantly reminded of the challenges of programming. It's all part of my journey of learning and overcoming limitations.Game development is just one of many creative passions I pursue. And although sometimes it feels like I'm far too scattered, I've been learning to lean into my multi-passionate nature.
Studio Vlog 16: Painting cartoon faces in acrylic Pete Mitchell 2024-09-13 | Recently I started a somewhat quirky art series called "grumpy heads," featuring clusters of cartoon faces inspired by the retro styles of Hanna-Barbera and UPA from the 60s and 80s.They started off as marker illustrations, by I've been hoping to try making new versions of them, as acrylic paintings on canvas. Lately I've been trying to explore a bit more color harmony and I'm trying to incorporate diverse colors to enhance the artwork. This series sort of leans towards a monochromatic theme.I tried to explore the use of mixed media techniques, including the use of stencils, stamps, and collage paper, to see how this series might look in different styles.
Studio Vlog 15: My new favorite music making device (The KO-2) Pete Mitchell 2024-08-31 | I have a ton of music making gadgets, and it seems like each new one i get, becomes my favorite. Well, that's definitely the case with my new Teenage Engineering KO-2. This thing is a beast! I'm having a blast so far.The KO-2 is basically a larger version of the Pocket Operator Knockout, functioning as a sampler, drum machine, and keyboard instrument. Its compact and portable design makes it an ideal tool for music creation on the go. I'm super excited about the potential uses for the music made with the KO-2, including soundtracks for future YouTube videos and full song production.
Studio Vlog 14: Mixed media art supply haul Pete Mitchell 2024-08-05 | In this studio vlog, I go through my latest art supply haul focusing on mixed media supplies, for a recent batch of mixed media art pieces.Sam and I took a quick trip to the craft store and we left with quite a haul of various art supplies, including stencils, stamps, and ink pads.Lately, I've been trying to add more texture and interest to my pieces. I've been a little worried that some of my previous works felt a bit too sparse.I'm excited about the potential uses of new items, such as loose letters and decorative stamps, despite typically avoiding these types of supplies.
Studio Vlog 13: How I illustrated a childrens book Pete Mitchell 2024-07-15 | In this studio vlog episode, I walk through step-by-step journey through my creative process of illustrating a children's book, from the initial spark of inspiration to the final strokes of the artwork.This was a fun journey illustrating a children's book written by my friend Brett.The first challenge was designing the two main characters, focusing on Millicent Clark, who has insecurities about her feet.My aim was to strike a balance in Millicent's design, ensuring she appears neither too young and cutesy nor overly bizarre.The second character, Dr. Parts, is introduced as a friendly yet caricature-like figure who helps Millison with her issues by creating synthetic body parts.
Studio Vlog 12: Painting Johnny and his Buddies from Cobra Kai Pete Mitchell 2024-06-26 | Every once in a while, I remember how much I enjoy acrylic painting. In this studio vlog, I walk through the steps of completing a painting, from initial sketches to the final signature.This painting is available in my shop, if you're interested: etsy.com/listing/1764102939/johnny-and-friends-16-x-20-acrylicHere’s a summary of your video titled "Studio Vlog 12: Painting Johnny and his Buddies from Cobra Kai" in five bullet points:Years ago, we did a DVD release that included a full video and a music EP related to "Sweep the Leg," which has since sold out.Recently, we decided to release the EP digitally, which inspired me to create new album art for the project.Working on this new art rekindled my passion for acrylic painting, which I had temporarily set aside.This painting is based on a previous marker sketch.
Studio Vlog 11: Filling a sketchbook with creepy dolls Pete Mitchell 2024-05-22 | I have trouble finishing sketchbooks. One of the reasons, I think, is that I always try to theme them. Years ago I started a sketchbook devoted to drawings of creepy dolls. Recently, I found one of the original reference books I drew from, and it made me want to restart the sketchbook.But this time around I decided to use some more colorful mixed media techniques in the drawings.I've had a long-standing fascination with antique dolls and figures, which inspired a dedicated sketchbook project. After initially sketching various dolls with personal twists, I set the project aside until Sam expressed interest in bringing the drawings to life.A recent thrift store find rekindled my interest, as Sam discovered the exact reference book used for their original sketches.In this video, I revisit the sketchbook, continuing the remaining half and experimenting with different media, including markers and ink.Here, I explore the process of redrawing earlier sketches with cleaner lines and simpler strokes.
Studio Vlog 10: My secret music gadget, the Zoom PS02 Pete Mitchell 2024-05-06 | Sometimes I need to sit at my computer to work on music, but sometimes I just want to play with sounds. So I've gathered a collection of music gadgets for this. One of my favorites, a go to gadget of mine, is the Zoom PS02.I love that I've been able to continue to be playful with my approach to making music, and to music production in general. It keeps things fun, and offers nice surprises to shake things up.Here’s a summary of your video titled "Studio Vlog 10: My secret music gadget, the Zoom PS02" in five bullet points:I have amassed quite an extensive collection of music gadgets, which are now displayed on a shelf above my computer desk. Despite acquiring these gadgets to reduce screen time, I often find myself working within digital audio workstations like Logic and Ableton.The gadgets, however, are battery-operated, allowing for music creation outside the home, such as during walks or at cafes. The tactile nature of the gadgets, featuring buttons and knobs, enhances the music-making experience compared to using a computer.Of course I'm painfully aware of the irony of owning these gadgets to escape the computer while still spending long hours at the desk!
Studio Vlog 09: Revisiting a 20-year old art project Pete Mitchell 2024-04-28 | I've made a habit of going back through older art projects from time to time. As a scattered artist, who is always hopping from project to project, this helps me feel like I'm not abandoning things. For this project, I took a lot of the mixed media art pieces that I had done, over 20 years ago, and brought them into Photoshop and Procreate on my iPad to add animation and motion.In this video, I reflect on my early years in Los Angeles, where I lived in a loft space and hosted art shows with my roommate, who was a photographer. The art shows were themed, and one significant theme was "introspective," which revolved around the concept of self-portraits and retrospectives.In this video, I revisit this 25-year-old art project, exploring the idea of self-portraits, specifically focusing on the mind. I love going through my past works to see how they inspire me to create new art.
Studio Vlog 08: Starting a new song with noise samples Pete Mitchell 2024-04-14 | Sometimes I have a clear idea for a song, but other times, I just play around with sound design in Logic Pro and see what I come up with. Lurker started out as an experiment in noise, but quickly grew into a spooky song about paranoia.As an indie music producer, I love working in Logic Pro. It lets me get my ideas down quickly, and I'm able to experiment and explore different options very easily. I love having a good mic setup so I can easily capture melody ideas as they come to me. Even though I'm a songwriter, I think my primary instrument is still my voice.In this video, I discuss the frustration that often arises during music sessions. However, I recognize the importance of exploration and playfulness in the creative process. I had a bit of a breakthrough moment while experimenting with various plugins in Logic, which led to the creation of a unique sound that I describe as resembling "space bugs." I ended up building a soundscape using noise, filters, and unconventional sounds. I also started chopping the soundscape into usable pieces, effectively creating a custom drum kit with kick, snare, hi-hat, and noise effects. I further experimented with the soundscape by altering its speed, searching for interesting moments to develop a sample pack for future use.
Studio Vlog 07: Imagining a heist movie for my new song Pete Mitchell 2024-04-08 | In this studio vlog, I'm finishing up my new album, Observer. This song, Safehouse, started out as an instrumental, simple atmospheric music, but as with most of my songs, I couldn't stop myself from writing lyrics to it. I tried to keep its moody vibe though. Working in Logic Pro is the easiest and fastest way for me to get musical ideas out. It's so quick for me to try out different sounds, and play with different possible directions the song can take.For this song, I envisioned a cinematic driving scene where I’m in a getaway car. This led me to the creation of introspective lyrics for a this previously instrumental track. My experimentation with sounds led me to discover a bass synth that became a pivotal element in shaping the final sound of the song.
Studio Vlog 06: I Made Faces Out of Clay and Turned Them into Magnets Pete Mitchell 2024-03-29 | I bought a 3D printer a while ago and started using it to make some fun things, but after my first fail, I got a little gun shy. And I didn't really go back to using it.Later, I went back to the magnets I had 3D printed, and realized they could have easily been hand sculpted, instead of 3D printed.So I set out to make a bunch of handmade clay magnets.Inspired by a TikTok artist, I shifted my focus from 3D printing to sculpting unique fridge magnets out of clay. I ending up using various colors of clay and a metal shape for cutting out oval bases for the face designs. I experimented with different facial features, exploring minimalist design to convey personality through simple shapes. This project served as a creative exercise, highlighting the fun and variety I achieved in sculpting clay faces for magnets.
Studio Vlog 05: Lets get out of the Studio Pete Mitchell 2024-03-25 | I used to have a habit of taking walks every day, usually right after lunch. It was a great way to kind of clear my mind. But once the weather got cold, I just kind of fell out of the habit.I think it's really easy for me to get caught up in the studio, being a bit of a hermit by nature. So lately I've had to remind myself to get out of the studio.Winter in Colorado can easily disrupt my walk routine, and I struggled to remember the benefits of walking as warmer weather returned. I have a tendency to become a hermit while working in the studio, surrounded by art supplies and music gadgets. And I'm learning the importance of stepping outside, and how walks help break the monotony of studio life and refresh my mind. During my walks, I found inspiration in the sounds of nature and the environment, which contrasted with the distractions of studio work.
Control (visualizer) Pete Mitchell 2024-03-16 | Control is the first single from my new album, Observer.
Studio Vlog 04: Making a hand-made book with Tab Binding Pete Mitchell 2024-03-08 | Recently, I've been getting into book-making and making hand-made books. Small ones. More as art pieces than anything else. But I'm still a bit intimidated by book-binding and stitching. So I found a YouTube video that demonstrated a no-stitch binding method, called tab binding. Basically, you bind each sheet, or signature together with small tabs. It's a pretty unique look, and to me, helps to make the book feel special. Almost like an artifact, or discovered treasure. Now that I have a few of these little books constructed, I have to decide what to fill them with. My instinct is to do tiny drawings and diagrams in them. But I also have this itty bitty thermal printer, that would be great for printing out tiny quotes and poems. Lately I think I've been a bit too focused on making art with the intention of selling it. And that puts you in a different headspace. For these little books, I haven't been thinking of that at all. and it's been nice. it's nice to simply make something for the fun of the process. it's a good reminder of why I make art in the first place.
Studio Vlog 03: Making a song from a random phrase Pete Mitchell 2024-03-02 | I love giving myself fun and interesting songwriting exercises. For this one, I chose to start with a randomly generated phrase. I use Watchout4snakes to generate random words and phrases for a lot of my projects. This time I didn't love what it gave me, but I liked the word "mathematician". It seemed like a fun angle for a song subject.
in the meantime rough demo 1 Pete Mitchell 2024-02-22 | the other day I asked my Twitter audience what songs they think I would do a fun cover of, and Dan suggested this one!
Studio Vlog 02: Making a cover of Taylor Swifts Blank Space Pete Mitchell 2024-02-20 | I started working on a cover of Taylor Swift's Blank Space a while ago, but I could never get the guitar to sound right. So I abandoned it. But then recently I re-discovered Native Instruments Strummed Acoustic guitar plugin for Logic Pro, and thought maybe I can save my cover!Once I refined the guitar sound, I was able to easily develop the rest of the arrangement, incorporating drums, cello, and piano to enrich the overall composition.
On the third day of Christmas Pete Mitchell 2023-12-17 | on the third day of Christmasmy true love gave to methree French hens
On the second day of Christmas Pete Mitchell 2023-12-16 | On the second day of Christmasmy true love gave to metwo turtle dovesand a partridge in a pear tree.
On the first Day of Christmas Pete Mitchell 2023-12-15 | my true love gave to mea partridge in a pear tree
Fish of the Day 8 Pete Mitchell 2023-11-25 | Today’s fish of the day is Humphrey! Humphrey is a hammerhead shark who loves to dance. His favorite band is men without hats. Thanks Humphrey!
Fish of the Day: Day 7 Pete Mitchell 2023-11-22 | Today’s fish of the day is not technically a fish. Leopold is a lobster, but his fishy friends decided to make him an honorary fish, just so he could be part of the club! Way to go Leopold!
Fish of the Day: Day 6 Elliot the Eel Pete Mitchell 2023-11-21 | Today’s fish of the day is Elliot the Eel. Elliot enjoys practicing yoga, playing overly complicated board games, and keeping his skin smooth and slippery with a carefully crafted skin care routine. Thanks Elliot!
Studio Vlog 01: I made my own Go Fish card game Pete Mitchell 2023-11-20 | Recently I made a Go Fish card deck. The deck is made up of 26 illustrations of silly undersea creatures. The illustrations were done on my iPad, in Procreate, but they all started out as watercolor pieces first. I love working this way because I get to keep the looseness and life that the original watercolor pieces have, but then I get to tighten them up and make them feel more polished.In this studio vlog I also talk a little about as an artist, why I love working in a series.
Fish of the Day: Day 5 Finley the dogfish Pete Mitchell 2023-11-16 | Today’s fish of the day is Finley the Dogfish. He’s a good boy!
Fish of the Day: Day 4 (Lionfish) Pete Mitchell 2023-11-16 | Today’s fish of the day is a charming little Lion fish named Deer. She got this nickname from her best friend Charlotte, who told her that her head bumps look like antlers. Thanks Deer, and Charlotte.
Fish of the day, Day 3: Marguerite Pete Mitchell 2023-11-15 | Today’s fish of the day is Marguerite.Marguerite hates being called Maggie. She loves singing in the shower, reading romance novels, and curling up with a warm bowl of soup. Thanks Marguerite!
Fish of the Day: Day 2 Antonio the Angler Fish Pete Mitchell 2023-11-14 | Today’s fish of the day is Antonio.Antonio is an angler fish. Antonio is afraid of the dark, so he’s happy that he always has a night light with him. He loves watching classic monster movies even they scare him. He’s a brave boy! Thanks Antonio!
Meet todays fish of the day! Day 1 Pete Mitchell 2023-11-13 | Today’s fish of the day is Leonard.Leonard is a shark. Leonard enjoys going to the dentist, playing Animal Crossing on his waterproof Nintendo Switch,And watching the Great British Baking Show on Netflix.Thanks Leonard, have a great day!
On the twelfth day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-11-01 | On the twelfth day of spooky..my ghoul love gave to me..... twelve headless horsemen.
On the eleventh day of spooky.. Pete Mitchell 2023-10-31 | On the eleventh day of spooky..my ghoul love gave to me..
On the tenth day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-29 | On the tenth day of spooky..my ghoul love gave to me.... ten creeps a-creepin'
On the ninth day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-29 | On the ninth day of spooky..my ghoul love gave to me...
On the eighth day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-28 | On the eighth day of spooky.... my ghoul love gave to me..eight vamps a-drinking
On the seventh day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-26 | On the seventh day of spooky.... my ghoul love gave to me...seven skulls a-skulking.
On the sixth day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-25 | On the sixth day of spooky..my ghoul love gave to mesix ghosts a-floating.
On the fifth day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-25 | On the fifth day of spooky.....my ghoul love gave to mefive moldy things
On the fourth day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-23 | On the fourth day of spooky...... my ghoul love gave to me..four gnawing beaststhree dead mentwo evil nunsand a cat in a creepy old tree
On the third day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-22 | On the third day of spooky...... my ghoul love gave to me...three dead mentwo evil nunsand a cat in a creepy old tree
On the second day of spooky... Pete Mitchell 2023-10-21 | On the second day of spooky, my Ghoul Love gave to me...two evil nunsand a cat in a creepy old tree.
