
I’m not one to buy games or books or go see movies the day they come out - I like to wait for the dust to settle. However, that doesn’t stop me from being extra excited about the Super Mario Galaxy game that was released for the Wii this week.
Rob over at Rob’s SketchBlog seems to feel the same way. Click through to see the amazing 2D to 3D transitional painting he created in honour of everyone’s favourite tubby plumber.
Mario Painting –> [via Kotaku]
Oh, you guys. Marian Bantjes is in today’s Layer Tennis. Colour me ridiculously excited! She’s amazing. I don’t know much about the second contestant, Armin Vit, but I’m thinking this is going to be fascinating.

Marta Dahlig is the artist responsible for the cover art of the beautiful Exotique 3 masterpiece I showed you yesterday, called Umbrella Sky. She obligingly takes us through some of the steps she followed to create this work of art over at CGSociety.
Umbrella Sky –>

Ballistic is hitting another one out of the park with the third installment of their Exotique collection of digital art books. We have several of this publisher’s books in the office, and they’re total eye candy; this edition is no different. With a full preview of the entire book in Flash directly on the book’s website, you know just what you’re getting - except web-sized images simply can’t give you the experience of actually holding one of these masterpieces in your hand.
It’s full of pretty pretty ladies, of course, but there’s also page after page of creatures and other dark characters that give the book a lot of depth and contrast. It’s not available until November, but my guess is, it will be well worth the price for the softcover or the hardcover.
Ballistic’s Exotique 3 –>

Last week’s match didn’t really do it for me, but I enjoyed this final volley by Mathew Star Thomas on October 5th, and the progression on the Harrington vs. Anderson match was quite entertaining.
Again, Layer Tennis –> [by Coudal Partners]

Von Glitschka is a prolific, talented, and business-savvy illustrator. I’ve been totally fascinated by his plethora of websites, such as IllustrationClass.com, Vonster.com, and ArtBackWash.com. I’ve learned oodles from his illustration class site, but those lessons are downloads - I found a site who hosted one of them and wanted to show you an online version. He shows you the whole process, from paper to scanner to Illustrator to print and final output.
Vonster reveals how he created “Keyboard Characters” –>

Kim Keever builds panoramas in aquariums, fills them with water, takes gorgeous photos and then ages them. Fantastic images, although the site is low on information.
Kim Keever –> [via NotCot]

An incredibly talented illustrator and artist, Alberto CerriteƱo is also an amazing designer, doing posters, websites and logos for a plethora of companies. Prepare to get lost in his work!
Alberto CerriteƱo –> [via Chuck Green]

Illustration and Lettering by Sarah J Coleman. Fabulous front page, although the navigation gets a bit wonky deeper in.
Inkymole –>