Michael Thoenes

" Untold the Game" New RPG Game Released by Wandering Men Studios

2010-04-06T06:54:00.000-07:00

My good friend Brannon just released a new RPG Game - check it out! mthoenes
http://www.untoldthegame.com

Hot off the Press!

Wandering Men Studios is proud to announce the official launch of their revolutionary new RPG, Untold. Untold is an RPG unlike any you’ve ever played – it’s a CBRPG ™, a Card-Based Role-Playing Game; there are no books, no character sheets; the rules are on the cards and all you need is a deck and a die ™. Untold is your familiar old RPG with a ton of cool, new, easy-to-learn features and mechanics that make creating characters uber-easy (you can create any level character in minutes) and learn to play the game in no time at all.

Untold utilizes awesome, new card design and printing technologies that allow us to offer not only dual-sided cards, but also quad-cards (with 4 active playing areas) that integrate our unique Swapping and Downgrading mechanics – not to mention, it gives you 2x (or 4x) the amount of cards for your purchasing dollar. Also, when you purchase a deck of Untold cards, you know exactly what you’re getting – our deck listings are online BEFORE you buy and on every package as well – no more blind packaging and NO RANDOMIZATION.

And, if that weren’t enough, you can also use the exact same Untold cards to play a hard-hitting, head-to-head fighting version of Untold called Untold: Battle ™. So whether RPG’s are the thing you love or you yearn for visceral card-based combat, Untold is for you.

Please join us on our newly re-designed website to: learn how to play with our free online Primer or download the rules for free; absorb the tons of free campaign setting information (ecologies, characters, races, regions, fiction and much more); check out our Untold: Battle factions; join our ever-growing community (over 250 strong); find out about our Untold Demo Program (the Untold Boost Team); subscribe to our RSS feed and monthly newsletter and so much more through our weekly site updates.

Demo Reel 2009

2010-01-02T05:55:00.001-08:00

Links to Image Galleries of Illustrations, CGI Work and Paintings

2010-01-01T20:45:00.001-08:00


Portfolio - CGI	Portfolio - Illustrations	Portfolio - Paintings

Fish Fry Screening at Redstick Animation Festival

2009-04-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to say that Me and Jessie D. "The Fish Fry" has been honored with a screening at the 2009 RedStick Animation Fesival ( http://redstickfestival.org/ ) in Batton Rouge. Only a few anamations were selected from over 400 entries.

In the Fish Fry, Boo challenges Rufus to fishing contest. Boo is certain he can catch more mudbugs than Rufus can catch fish. The problem is no one has seen any mudbugs in over a month.

I hope the Gators and other cartoon critters are well received in the real Bayou! When Studio 125 went to the festival in 2008, Fish Fry was in production and we were pitching it in the Pitch! Contest at the festival. Having it screen there this year feels great.

Studio 125 Releases "Me & Jessie D." DVD

2008-12-20T11:50:00.000-08:00

As the animation producer on this project, I can tell you that it is extremely satisfying to see it completed and on store shelves. The Studio 125 team always strove for excellence and rose to the meet many challengs despite the inevitable budget and operational constraints they faced. My heartfelt thanks to the team for their excellent work, the many laughs, the extreme patience and the friendship.

M Thoenes

From the Studio 125 website:

"Studio 125 is pleased to announce the release of “Me and Jessie D. With the Kids’ World Kids.” This DVD is packed with approximately 90 minutes of cartoons, live action adventures, funny scenes and bonus features. Here’s more info about what to expect!

JOIN IN THE FUN WITH THE KIDS’ WORLD KIDS AND THEIR CARTOON FRIENDS FROM THE BAYOU!

The Kids’ World Kids prepare for a fish fry and go on some great adventures to an alligator farm and an aquarium. Packed between their adventures are two great episodes of the Me & Jessie D. Cartoon. In “The Fish Fry,” Boo challenges Rufus to a fishing contest and in “Boo Flies,” Boo is determined to learn to fly like the Crow Brothers."

Graphic artist is living his childhood dream

2008-12-18T13:29:00.001-08:00

Lockheed Martin Challenge Newsletter April 2005
Posted online with permission

Graphic Artist, is living his childhood dream

By Ginger Washington Editorial Contributor

In his own words, Michael Thoenes, LMSSC Huntsville Graphics Artist, has had a passion for art and illustration "as far back as I can remember." Thoenes is one of the lucky few who has realized a childhood dream. Remember that age-old question that is asked of all children - "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Thoenes remembers responding that he wanted to draw and paint pictures.

Thoenes recalls illustrating his first book in 3rd Grade. Some classmates had put to-gether a story and needed someone to do the drawings. It was a small book, perhaps the size of a 1/4 sheet of paper with roughly 12 pages. For a sixth grade assignment, Thoenes wrote and illustrated a children's book entitled, “Prickles the Porcupine,” and he still has the original.

It was not until 1991, as a starving artist, that Thoenes landed a real book illustration opportunity. “The Train,” published by Sterling Designs of Duluth, Minn., didn't make the bestseller list. Neither did his second il-lustrated book, “The Best Cook.” Both books were illustrated by Thoenes on a royalty ar-rangement, and Thoenes stated that he can now look back and laugh about it all, includ-ing the fact that he never received any kind of monetary reward on either book. He could, however, say that he was published and that gave him the encouragement he needed to continue working towards his dream.

When queried about how he found a starting place, Thoenes said that he found a book entitled, "How to Write a Children’s Book and Get It Published," by Barbara Seuling. And, majoring in Fine Art in college didn't hurt, although no formal training is necessary. His opinion is that desire and patience are the necessary ingredients to succees.

In Thoenes' words, "It helps if you have natural talent, but a lot of people have tal-ent without the desire. Illustrating a book requires you to maintain consistency throughout a series of drawings. I found that to be challenging. In the case of “The Train” and “The Best Cook,” I was going door to door with my portfolio looking for work. I just happened to knock on the right door at the right time. Several years later I was con-tacted by the producers of the PBS television series, "Grandfather Reads," to do some illustrations for the program as well a book entitled, “I don’t want to grow up to be Presi-dent,” (currently unpublished). I also found another opportunity through a newspaper classified ad and presented my portfolio to the author. That job resulted in illustrations for “Charlie, Minnie, and the Martian” (currently unpublished). Plus, some additional books are planned. In light of my earlier ex-periences with royalties, the later works were done for a fee. Getting an illustration job does require letting people know what you do. Most of my work has come from seeking work and actually going after it. Occassionally, someone will refer me for some illustrating, and that is great."

Until recently, Thoenes' illustrations were produced entirely in watercolor and colored pencil with some digital post processing in his favorite style, caricature and cartoonish drawings. Also, his most recent work re-volves around church related projects. Thoenes recently completed a large theatri-cal set painting for a church dinner theater for which his wife, Andrea, was the director.

Thoenes is currently working on a series of Bible based animations for a project called "Holyword Kids," a series of 1-2 minute video clips titled, “Strange happenings at the E&E Bone Company." The series premiers May 1st at HolyWordKids.com. Thoenes is also working on a book titled, “Hee Haw, Hee Haw, Would you listen to a Donkey,” based on the Bible story of Balaam in Numbers 22. His new project is almost entirely digital creations, which is a new style for Thoenes that keeps him stretching his artistic limits.

Check out Michael's Art Lesson websites.

How to Draw and Paint at www.how-to-draw-and-paint.com

Grid Drawing Worksheets at www.jumbosmart.com