[Gort]

I saw the Vilppu DVDs mentioned in another thread. Has anyone seen these? Are they any good? At first glance they're reasonably priced at $29 each, but it usually takes three to cover one topic (ka-ching$$).

I was jus' wonderin'.
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[jfrancis]

They run okay on a computer. They often don't run so well on a DVD player.

The lectures on anatomy -- which is one style of DVD he sells -- are generally pretty good. I was in the actual anatomy classes that were videotaped for many of the DVD's, so that's me coughing off screen. I wish he took the extra time to make a lecture just for the camera. Any still model photos he has ever made, either on CD-R, or as a freebie on the DVD's, have been of poor technical quality -- low light / low rez / motionblur.

The demonstrations of drawing -- which is another style of DVD he sells -- I don't like so much. You don't see the model in the demos, only the drawing itself, so you don't know where he is going with it until he does it.

The main thing you get from Vilppu as I see him is a philosophy of drawing shared by R B Hale in the past, which is based on a solid 3D conception of form, and the mental concept of an ideal figure against which the model in front of you either compares to or contrasts with. You keep that ideal figure in mind as you draw, and you construct your drawing by placing bony landmarks and filling in tissue over the bony framework.

He draws lines intended to "sell" the dimensionality of the figure, not capture what he sees in front of him. A belt that cuts straight across a figure in real life will arc around his drawings from a cheated higher or lower angle. Wrinkles in drapery are another good opportunity to explain the form, not hide it. Cast shadows are greatly simplified, and redrawn to better wrap around and better reveal the 3D form, regardless of what they may actually be doing in the studio

He has a deep knowledge of anatomy that allows him to "muscles up" simplified skeletons into well constructed figures in any pose he imagines.

If you are oriented towards illustration and animation (as I suspect many here are) you'll like his DVD's. His figures tend to look crisper than the models themselves. Anyone steeped in a certain kind of fine arts traditionalism that values strictly reproducing what you see, may be horrified by such ideas as ignoring the studio lighting if it doesn't suit you.

It's tempting to think that a "fine arts" person might sniff at such "illustrators tricks," but R B Hale says the exact same thing in his books and videotaped lectures, and he was curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Me? I like the approach.

[Gort]

Thanks for the reply, although I was looking more for input on the quality of the discs; however, you're comments regarding style and technique are well received and not in vain.

[ceenda]

Gort: Glad this topic came up, as I actually ordered a couple of Villpu DVDs the other day from the States. Courtesy of a weak dollar. Thanks Mr Bush!

If I get them this week I'll give them a whirl and post some comments here.

[Gort]

[watmough]

dm's in the U.S........tooo much money!
haven't bought them in a couple of years,now i buy Gripfasts,about the same price,last twice as long!
btw,werent dm's once "19 pounds and 99 p"?

[jfrancis]

Any reviews yet?

[ceenda]

Dispatched: 29th November

Still hasn't arrived.

Postmen suck.

[Gort]

Aw Ceenda - tis the season for slow parcels
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[ceenda]

Well, it's January the 17th and still no parcel.

Glenn (or whoever responds to the email contact) won't answer my emails either.

I'm not trying to put the blame on him, but I recommend that you insist on signed delivery if you order them.

[Gort]

Well that sure does suck. It's bad enough that you haven't received your goods, but to get "customer no service" is salt in the wound! Hang tough!
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Gort]

Any word on thoses DVDs???
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[jfrancis]

How'd it work out?

[ceenda]

Me?

Nope. Glenn just wouldn't reply to me any more. I wasn't rude, wrote politely and stated that I hadn't received anything.

To be honest, get the DVDs (or just one to begin with) but INSIST on recorded delivery, even if it means paying a little bit more.

I'm sure Glenn's a decent enough guy, but I wouldn't purchase anything unless I could guarantee receiving it. But that really should be Glenn's responsibility.

[Mikko K]

Ceenda:

It's not neccessarily their fault. The company I work for ordered some Gnomon dvd's a year ago and even though they were sent on time, it took more than six months before we actually got them. The dvd's got lost in the post office / customs somewhere in Finland and were sent back to US after some time.. I don't know the details or how common this is. We ordered something else later and those were here right on time. Go figure.

[balistic]

Sorry to hear that Ceenda.

I've had tons of things vanish going to, or coming from Europe. Definitely insist on insurance or package tracking when you can.
_________________
brian.prince|light.comp.paint

[ceenda]

Mikko: I agree. I've had postmen here leave valuable parcels lying out on the main street. It may even have reached the UK but got lost/destroyed in a RoyalMail depot somewhere.

It's something I'm sure most sellers dread. From their point of view, a buyer might have recieved it, but claimed they hadn't. Which is why for deliveries over that distance you really should insist on signed insured delivery.

I have ordered from Gnomon before and they've arrived fine. But those weren't tracked either, I don't think.

But in retrospect, I would order from Glenn again, but I just feel like I'd be paying twice for something I bought already.

balistic: Yeah, I tend to buy quite a few things from the States. Even with postage and possible VAT, it's still cheaper. But I always roll my lucky dice before pressing the "Submit Order" button.

[Gort]

This should be a good lesson of how not to do business. In my opinion and honorably speaking, Glenn should resend the DVDs to you and in a trackable manner. It's just good business to do so. He has publicly offered products in exchange for money. You've paid but have not received your DVDs. If I were Glenn I'd write it off and resend but in a trackable and received receipt manner.

Just an idea - if you'd like, you can send me a copy of the invoice, and I'd be happy to call California and try to speak with someone about it.

Tom
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Ragnarok]

[ceenda]

Gort: Sorry for bumping this, but I missed your last post in the thread. I still have the original receipt. To be honest, if the offer is still open I'd be very grateful if you could just ask them. At least to find out if the parcel was returned or anything. I can PM you the receipt and invoice number. If it's an expensive call, then I'll probably call them direct from the UK.

EDIT - I'll try emailing again and sending the receipt to him first. I've offered to pay the cost of re-postage, so we'll see what happens.

[Gort]

sure man - let me know what you want to do - anything to save you some coin. All of my long distance calls on my cell phone are free (as long as they don't go out of plan. which never happens due to having 1000 minutes a month)

PM me when you're ready (if you still want), and I'll send you a private email and AIM alias to contact me with.

sorry for the delay in replying - I've been under the radar of late.

-t
_________________
- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield