The 5 variations on a pose

Got a chance to do some more work on the Preston Blair style squirrel frolic!

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I really liked this pose, from a few days ago.
(Stu rig brought to you by AnimationMentor)

It was based on this sketch from a while back.


The original pose I felt was very readable, but this version seems more true to the original sketch.


Then of course I had to attempt one that was completely over the top!

I got some more feedback from some other students who seemed to think I wouldn't get the best grade based on the rigidity of the original pose so I figured I'd go with this one.





The same pose with a slight toe roll on the front foot. I felt it added just a little more than the flat foot of the original!



Even more tweaks, just about to fall asleep too!


I think the line of action and silhouette really pop on this one hope it gets a good grade!


I passed by the 5 Chinese Brothers children's book earlier this week. I can't believe I forgot about this wonderfully illustrated treasure. I'm not sure it's necessarily politically correct these days, but Kurt Wiese's illustration style itself is beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration!

Pose Pose Pose

Trying a new way to rough out my next Preston Blair style animation, and I think it'll be a lot easier and look better in the long run!


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Practicing more poses in Maya again today using AnimationMentor's Stu rig

More Movement and Maya!

Finally finished the color on the last part of the Preston Blair hunter sneak!


and sorta roughed it all together, although there's a couple things I want to do to smooth it out, hopefully tomorrow!



Had a blast posing AnimationMentor's Stu rig yesterday so I figured I'd practice a bit more today as well!

Tried a more subdued yet expressive pose. I'm not sure it really communicates, but definitely a good exercise.


Tonight's inspiration is brought to you by Bert Klein and Teddy Newton, by way of Michael Sporn!

Life drawing and posing

Spent some time drawing some interesting characters at the mall this weekend.

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Then tried to match some of the best poses in Maya using the AnimationMentor "Stu" rig!

Last rough for the Preston Blair hunter sneak cycle. Hopefully I'll have it colored and animated by the end of the week!


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Woke up with Freddy Moore and Bill Pressing on the brain! I love their styles so much! They both have different but similar takes on the same subject. I've got to spend more time trying to get some of that style and energy into my female drawings! Thanks for the inspiration!

Just keep doing it!

No matter what, just keep doing it!

Preston Blair's Hunter sneak animation rough,

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and with color.

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Walt Stanchfield had a great chapter today! He quoted Eric Larson who quoted Constantin Stanislavsky who said, "In ever physical action, there is always something psychological and visa versa." The point here was to emphasize finding the psychological reasoning behind a character's physical pose! Thanks for the inspiration!

Oh and I picked up a copy of How to Cheat in Maya 2010 by Eric Luhta! It was highly recommended to me by many teachers and fellow students at AnimationMentor! I'll do a little write up on it once I get some time with it. I can't wait!

You're only as good as your last try!

I've got to look into quicker methods of coloring. It seems to be taking a bit too long to get it right. If anyone knows any good photoshop color techniques please let me know!

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I had some time to listen to a couple great episodes of Toon-In to Animation today. The first episode was with Maureen Furniss an animation historian who teaches at Cal Arts and writes the Animation Journal! She talked a bit about the start of animation and that even early cavemen tried to make moving pictures. The statement that really stuck with me today though, was something that Barrie Nelson said, "You're only as good as your last movie." Which reminded me of something I read a while back about whatever you're drawing right now should be the best drawing you've ever done. I've got to try to keep that in mind in every aspect of life. Thanks for the inspiration!

Maya and Oftedal!

Spent some more time playing around in Maya today, and made this quick little floaty ball animation!

Still working on roughing out all of Preston Blair's Hunter sneak animation. Here's the next part!


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I've got to set aside some time to scan in a bunch of the drawings I've done in the last week or so. Soon hopefully! I'm really enjoying the 3d stuff, even though I'm just learning. It's fascinating!

I was cruising through the AnimationMentor campus today and came across Mark Oftedal's Blog. What a find! I love the way he draws. It seems so free and rough, yet clean and polished at the same time. He also has mastered the loose color splash look that I've been trying to grasp. Check out his elephants! Thanks for the inspiration!

The wonderful world of color ...

Got stuck a little late at work and had to run some errands so tonight's update will be quite late... If I can keep my eyes open!

Cleaned up the rough from last night,


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and spent a little too much time coloring it.


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I'm really loving putting color in the images. It seems to give them just that little extra pop. Michael Sporn put up a great post on Gustaf Tenggren's illustration. I simply adore his use of color. Thanks for the inspiration!

Working on making a portfolio...

Update will be pretty late tonight... but it'll get here!

Got caught up going through my drawings and trying to pick out some more real life and figure drawings stuff for a portfolio for class, so I only had time to get the rough out tonight. Should have the color tomorrow, plus fix up a couple of things on this rough.

Oh I did come across a great website the other day called Golden Age Comic Book Stories. They have a wonderful collection of beautiful illustrations from all types of media. It's a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. Thanks for the inspiration!

Be obsessed with what you want!

Been having a blast creating lately! I'm trying not to be too busy to update here everyday!

Preston Blair style hunter sneak rough 2

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Preston Blair style hunter sneak color 2

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I was trying for a loose water color like look, with yesterdays color cycle, but I don't think it came across. So I spent way too long coloring this tonight, but I think it came out a lot better. *Yawn*

Trying my hand at some 3d modeling in Maya, a little test starring Claude.

I've been listening to a lot of Toon In to the World of Animation podcasts lately, and I really enjoyed the episode with Sharon Colman (#28). Who has a lovely accent and also worked on How to Train Your Dragon as a story artist! Anyways at the end of the interview Tee Bosustow asked Sharon what advice she had for new comers to animation, and she said "You've just got to, to really in a perverse way just be obsessed with what you want, and stick with it and don't worry too much about what people are are thinking or what you should be doing, just do it." That's been stuck in my head for the past few days, so thanks for the inspiration!

2 Parter

Here's part A of tonight's update,

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and part B!



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Sorry for the shorter updates the last couple of days, but I'll have a huge update as soon as I get some more free time to scan in the drawings from the last few days.

Late Update!

Got caught up doing some school stuff today, update should be out late tonight!

Miltdusa

Sometimes you just need to take a little break. I was noticing the I'm too tired warble in my final line work today after work, so even though I wanted to get tonight's drawings done right away, I knew I needed to step away for a bit. Lo and behold the rest of the drawings went pretty smoothly.

Gilligan keep on truckinging.


Claude tries on his new toupee.


Pirate a Day


With our little hero feeling good in his fancy new duds he paid Theodore the Tailor in the towns favorite currency, and went on his way.


I got to watch part of the Rescuers last night, after not having seen this movie for who knows how long, and hearing and reading lots about it (since it was one of the last things Milt Kahl worked on) I was happy that it still stood up to what I was hoping it would. I really picked up on a lot of the things Walt Stanchfield has been talking about regarding drastic angles to emphasize the pose and to really get the gestures across. (Drawn to Life Vol 1) I wish they would have developed the Madame Medusa character story-wise a bit more, cause Milt Kahl delivers an outstanding performance. Thanks for the inspiration!

(Check out Inspector Cleuzo's posts on Madame Medusa for some great Milt Kahl drawings!)

Opportunities and Goals

Sorry about last night's update being a little late... I got caught up roughing and retouching up the Preston Blair run cycle. Overall I think it turned out pretty good, but I've got to remind myself to keep to deadlines and although perfection is key you have to keep yourself on schedule.

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Gilligan is kind of a scared-i-cat.


Gilligan doing his best greek fountain impression.


Claude and his turtle being kings of the world,


and then realizing that they aren't.


Pirate a Day


Pirate a Day - Article the Second


After a few hours of trying different looks our little hero and Theodore found one that worked perfectly!


Our little hero couldn't thank Theodore the tailor enough!

So life has thrown me quite a few twists since really following my dream to be an artist / animator. Some things have vastly improved while others have simply fallen by the wayside. I'm right now again at a crossroads in life. I was listening to the Asifa Hollywood Animation Podcast with Beth Sleven, and they were talking about which colleges were the best to go to for animation, which books were the best to read, what skills to practice and develop, and they came to the conclusion that it really doesn't mater as long as you really have the desire and motivation, along with some sort of talent of course. For example one of her fellow animators started out as a law student. Which reminded me of something Eamonn Butler said on the Animation Podcast. It was something to the effect of you never really know exactly what opportunities are going to come your way and you have to take advantage of everyone. Well here's to decisions, hard work, life, motivation, opportunities, and goals. Thanks for the inspiration!