A closer look at Candidates

Branden Otto's Candidates print features a series of wonderful portraits of characters from LOST.

The centerpiece of the print is a fantastic depiction of Smocke, probably my favourite capture of TOQ to date.

Ben is all about asymmetry, which is reflected well here. Likeness is a little off, but not bad.

Wise-cracking Miles Straume. Too bad he's had so little to do in Season 6. It will be interesting to find out what he, Richard, and Ben have been up to since parting ways with Jack's team.

Sad, longing Sun. Hasn't been re-united with Jin yet.

One of my favourites on the poster. Love how Kate is all Ms. 45. Lots of energy.

Good likeness of Hurley.

I very much like the Jack portrait. Reminds me of his "I was stupid enough to think The Island could save me" moment.

Pretty good Jin.

Sawyer in anguish. Plenty of emotion projecting from this portrait.

I like how the artist has captured Zombie Sayid's state of mind here.

Another of my favs from this poster. I can see the 140 years of Island living captured in his face.

I like the work done on creepy Claire too.

Widmore's arrogance, strength, and anticipation is nicely captured.

The body language of MIB and Jacob are neatly captured. The just-aired "Across the Sea" sure adds a new perspective to that scene in "The Incident" where we were first introduced.

For completeness, the candidate names/numbers captured in the print. I haven't checked myself but assume that these match what we saw in the cave.

Hatchy Birthday

My daughter had a birthday recently and look who showed up for cake that day!

Looks a bit like Kate is searching for a candle to light. I also enjoy the way Hurley seems to be wistfully (and hungrily?) staring at the icing.

Oh, I almost forgot -- Vincent was there too. Sideways Vincent, by the looks of him.


Here's a clearer shot of the cake.

Lost diptych by Branden Otto

Branden Otto released a fantastic pair of matched Lost prints in early 2010 -- Candidates and Just Progress.

Candidates was released first, shortly after the Season 6 reveal of names on the ceiling of Jacob's cave. It features a series of portraits of characters central to the Season 6 arc. I particularly like Flocke, Kate, Richard, Widmore, and Sayid. Creepy Claire is rendered effectively...creepy...as well. Nice composition on this print too, with Man In Black and Jacob in the top third of the piece lording over our all-too-human cast of characters slogging it out below.

I was very excited to realize that I am the only person on the planet to have TWO of The Numbers in their edition number -- four and eight! Thanks Branden for that extra bonus!


Following the release of Candidates Branden announced that it was actually the first of a diptych. I of course ordered the follow-up print, Just Progress, when it was available. It again features some fine work, especially Desmond, Charlie, Frank, Ilana, and Daniel. Branden was good enough to provide matching print numbers to those who ordered both.


I found sandy-gold frames at Michael's which (hopefully) complement the art fairly well.


I have Branden's work up beside my copy of Tyler Stout's piece from the Lost Underground Art Project. Together they form an awesome gallery of Lost character art.


A few more copies of Just Progress are still available here.

I also plan a couple of follow-up posts taking a closer look at these two prints.

'We Have to go Back' by Jimmy Goose

We Have To Go Back is a magical little print by Jimmy Goose. It instantly transports my consciousness to the day in 2007 when my mind was blown by the flash forward reveal near the end of the season 3 finale. Perhaps my favourite moment and perhaps my favourite line of the series. With effortless simplicity this piece captures the experience for me.


This is a 15x9 print, laser printed on coated paper. I have #35 of the 42-print run. I haven't found a good frame yet, so for now I have it perched atop my copy of 'The Crash'. They actually make a pretty nice pair.

Looks like there may still be a few copies left here.

Dharma Beer Koozie

Back in January I won a Dharma beer koozie in one of Erika Olson's monthly giveaway contests. A few days later I won a Locke Lives T-shirt in a separate contest put on by Erika and DarkUFO. My lucky streak ended there, however -- the shirt arrived in the mail a few days later but the koozie did not arrive. No doubt the MIB was involved in the MIA koozie. Either that or a postal employee saw the word 'beer' on the package and brought it home for the weekend. I let Erika know that the koozie didn't arrive. She was sympathetic but noted that she had just sent out the last of them. I was happy enough with the T-shirt, so moved forward with an expectation of koozielessness. (Not a word, Mr. Spellcheck? REALLY?)

In early April I received an email from Erika. She had uncovered a few more koozies and offered to send one if mine had still not arrived. It hadn't so I gratefully accepted her offer. As a bonus, when it arrived it included a note from Erika written on stationary she purchased while at the Sunset on the Beach LOST season 6 premiere event in Hawaii earlier this year.

Thank you Erika for remembering me and giving me a 2nd chance. The koozie will be put to good use during the LOST finale in a few weeks.