“Open up your eyes...Don't let your mind tell the story here…” Open Up Your Eyes: Tonic, Lemon Parade My Big Brother in my fraternity used to work for an independent record label in San Marcos, Texas . He used to trade CD’s with other labels, hoping that they would promote and push each other’s bands I suppose. I am not sure all that he really did, but one night he called me and told me that I had to come over. I walked down to his apartment and he played this album for me, the band being Tonic, who was about to hit the scene. I guess it was rare to come across something descent in his job- but this was far more than descent! He put this CD in, and from the opening crash of this song I was blown away. We felt like we had a head start on everyone else because we knew and loved their album before they came to the radio- before even “If you could only see” came about. He got us tickets to a show in San Antonio and met their manager and the band. They gave me a signed poster which I still have to this day tucked away in my closet. They were pretty cool guy except for the drummer who was a total bone head… but it is one of my fondest memories with my Big Brother… and it all started with this song! *** Artist Notes *** Created with Shutterfly collage creator. Lyrics: Choosing stones... Big enough to drag me down Where I am... People's voice's make hollow sounds Just be quiet... They'll go away Open up your eyes... Don't let your mind tell the story here Open up your eyes... Just let me go It's so safe... It's so safe floating in the glass While above... While above all your troubles pass Just be quiet... They'll go away Open up your eyes... Don't let your mind tell the story here Open up your eyes... Just let me... Open up your eyes... Don't let your mind tell the story here Open up your eyes... Just let me go, let me go, let me go Open up your eyes... Just let me go...

Day two of this trade marine. Obvious additions are the head and the arm. I'm liking how it's all coming together... Took some extra special attention with the head & I think it's paid off quite well. Done today: - Smoothed out the purple a little bit. I felt the transitions were stringy... If that can be used to descibe painting? - The helm is done with Bolt Gun > Base Gold (Andrea Paints). Then a glaize of Sepia, then detail lines with Orgyn Flesh, then Devlan Mud and then finally black. To highlight the gold I used base again followed by White Gold (Andrea Paints). - The eyes and head gem were done with my regular gem technique. I might have to redo the left eye (His right), it looks a little funny... To Do: - Detail work: Gems, parchment wording, etc. - I'm a little unsure about what color to make the leg laurel, I was thinking gold, but I might be a little overboard on the gold, maybe green? - A little more work on the weapon. It's a dark grey right now, might lighten it up a couple of touches of grey... - The Backpack! Crap! I forgot the backpack... AGAIN! *sigh* - Anything else I can think of, or get told about from all of you :D