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!