Zealot Crazy Talk

The Lost Little Dragon

2011-10-16T16:16:00.003-04:00

I was 'secretly' taking a class through the summer to refresh my polishing skills on digital painting. I sketch quite a bit, but was a little out-of-practice and needed a review of the basics anyway!I found my 'flow' when I did these thumbs:

I chose the ocean one, cause I love the ocean.

Something in the Bushes

2011-10-16T16:05:00.001-04:00

Trying to paint more contrast in, but this is the general idea.

The Angel Michael.

2011-10-04T00:15:00.001-04:00

At least, how I kind of imagined him. Kind of a "Heavenly Badass".

2011-10-04T00:13:00.002-04:00

Bigger. Maybe better? This (and the post before) is an illustration for an upcoming book by James A. Beane about the 3D production process. He's quite knowledgable, so it should be good!

Lite Infographic

2011-10-01T18:34:00.002-04:00

This is my version of the CG Animation pipeline that I'm creating for a book. There's a few revisions, so this isn't the final. I do love bunnies, though.

2011-09-08T20:55:00.001-04:00

Rocky is a Gerbil with a checkered past. And he wants to party. With you.

Unnamed.

2011-06-18T02:31:00.005-04:00

Drop Dead Diva

2011-05-10T16:47:00.001-04:00

I know it's been a while.

2011-03-22T21:19:00.013-04:00

Eventually, I'll have a balance between producing actual work, and posting it. I posted some of the animations I did on Vimeo. I had to produce 9 animations in 15 weeks (about 6-7 minutes of animation), the most I've ever had to produce. For me, it was an exercise on what was possible, a proof-of-concept, if you will.
Thank goodness I had help! Animator Toby Cochran, assistants Kevin Johnson and Katherine Taht, compositor Christina Hall, and background artist Sean Winburn.

I also created backgrounds for a candy company, Toxic Waste Sour Candy. They were looking for a traditional cartoonist, so I tried to make them happy. Here's some highlights:

This character's MO is a facade of environmentalism covering a toxic habit:

Same character, but under his mansion:

2010-11-09T21:57:00.003-05:00

More sketchery - of members of faculty, and 'other'. Not as emotional as the last group, so not so good to grow my former position as a Story Supervisor...

Sketchbook Project, Pt. 2

2010-11-05T21:32:00.007-04:00

More sketch-foolery.

Sketchbook Project, Pt. 1

2010-11-03T15:27:00.004-04:00

I've happily been particpating in the Sketchbook Project, and it's provided me with down time where I can sketch freely and explore ideas that don't fit anywhere else.

Story Consulting

2010-09-29T01:40:00.006-04:00

I apologize for the long lack-of-blog-posting.
I consulted for Performance Services in 2008 to create a narrative piece explaining the history of the Design-Build tradition (it's where a single designer - shoot, just watch it!). The old-time feel is intentional, and there were some really talented folk who worked on this: Me on story, Leigh Marino scriptwriter, Vince Gorman and Joseph Cross on animation. They polished this sucker off with very little time and resources.
Leigh still works at Mediasauce, Vince moved to Santa Monica, and animated on the recently released Kung Fu Panda Online Game and Ken Duncan Studios, Joseph Cross went on to work for the Basement Design and Motion. And me, I'm still in the same place I was 2 years ago.

Good Times with the Mammals

2010-07-19T19:11:00.005-04:00

They wouldn't stay very still, but it was good stuff. I went with a group and I think we all tried not to get too full of ourselves, but just put pencil to paper and get those 100,000 bad drawings out of our system.

Swimming.

2010-07-19T18:32:00.002-04:00

There's a serious need for me to take up the slack. I'm hoping that NDAs will subside on what little I can post for "BLU".

Here we go.

2010-05-06T12:47:00.001-04:00

Summer's about to begin, and so am I, as Story Supervisor for Big Grin Productions' "BLU".

I AM working.

2010-04-07T00:36:00.004-04:00

Man! It's been a while since I've posted anything! I assure you, I labor at my desk and I look at other blogs - which, BTW, I don't feel my comments would add anything they're expressed so well.

I hope everyone's doing well, and as summer begins I'll post actual hand-crafted work. I hope. Or maybe I'll learn guitar.

Last Minute Storyboards

2010-01-20T15:29:00.013-05:00

Before I traveled to San Francisco over the weekend, I crammed in some storyboard work for Adrenaline Motion Picture's upcoming web series in development:

This kind of storytelling needs camera-intimate eye-level work, and good close-ups.

I must say that though I've many projects lined up (and trying to line up) the only consistent project is that of my school. I would call it my "day job", but that sounds like I stop doing it at night. I am always thinking about HOW and WHY, night and day, job or no job. With students I get the high level of personal interaction I require (and admittedly rusty at), I get to pursue things that fit comfortably in the classroom. I squeamishly submit that I may be in the right place as a teacher. I would have never, in my wildest dreams, thought myself a teacher in the Midwest. But here I am. I've certainly been afraid of genuine grand opportunities in the past (like my Pixar Interview of February 96, the "one that got away"), but it seems I've ended up here. And unless something historic or career-shattering happens, I imagine this is where I'll always be.

Winter Drawings.

2009-12-14T20:42:00.005-05:00

According to my calculations, I'm drawing at .011 of full capacity. Please, enjoy these images while go over to this corner and CRY MY EYES OUT.

Rockabots Now An Official Site

2009-11-16T17:02:00.004-05:00

Because of NDA's and the like, I didn't talk much about my work 2 years ago on a little project called Rockabots. I developed character designs and animatics (with filmmaker Steve Marra of Adrenaline Motion Pictures) for the animated series, and from that development Canadian studio Neezo has created a website showcasing this marketable idea, including the final 3D animation.
It was funny, I thought Rockabots was long over, hadn't heard anything, then the day before my Heartland presentation.. there it is! The website hadn't been finished at the time, so it's a pleasure to hook you guys up with it now.
Adrenaline has also just finished producing the film "Amanda" - check that out while you're at it!

I'm still working.

2009-11-12T00:23:00.003-05:00

I know this is a vague image - hopefully you can't tell what's going on there.

Trust me - I am working, and as soon as NDAs will allow, I'll post the fun and exciting work I get to do.

Vectren Site Up and Operational!

2009-09-30T02:41:00.006-04:00

Here's hoping that you'll enjoy the 13-month long project known as Vectren. Judge the game on how addictive and repeat-playable it is. That would make our day (and not in a Clint-Eastwood-kind-of-way)!

Hats off to the Vectren folk (Maelynn Hudson, Tracy Bryant, et. al)for being quite innovative in their pursuit of a better, original game in a time where most corporations fear such things. I mean really, HATS OFF! Looking at how many people it took to make this work - well, it's just staggering. Here's the short list:

Jennifer Stewart - Concept and Head of the Whole Enchilada! (She would be the executive producer, but in academia it's called something different)
Chris Basham - Website Design, programming, and layout

Matt Powers - Concept and Programming Lead. (Matt was our "X factor"!)
Don Mitchell - programming consultant
Kyle McKnight - head programmer
Corey Callahan - programming
Zach Carr - programming

Skip Comer - Database Lead

Me - Concept and Art Direction
Trevor Barger - animation
Sean Winburn - illustration
Jackie Crofts - illustration
Linda Vang - concepting
Ryan Stone - production

Ricardo Laranja - sound direction

In fact, feel free to leave a comment right here, on this blog, giving us your thoughts.
http://www.vectrenenergysafe.com/

I've a new place to visit!

2009-09-11T12:43:00.005-04:00

I'm rather excited about this new blog, Pencil Test Depot

Also, the Vectren Project is temporarily posted, but will soon have a permanent residence. Check it out, play the games, and post some feedback (cause we DO need troubleshooting help).

My Long Project is Over, Pt. 3

2009-08-27T19:39:00.003-04:00

This is the opening cinematic I directed for the Gas Safety game. Trever lent his fantastic animation of Therm and the computer interface, I painted and animated the other backgrounds. The intent was high adventure with a tablespoon of cute, and it really feels right. The Gas Safety game takes almost a half an hour to play (which is kind of epic for a Flash game) whereas playtesting for the Electric Safety game below takes about 5 minutes.

My Long Project is Over, Pt. 2

2009-08-27T19:11:00.008-04:00

So, we'd already built the huge and near-seam-splitting gargantuan-ness of the Gas Safety game, so the Electric game was much, much easier. We based the visuals on 1950s animation art. I've seen the latest incarnation of the game, and Volt's animation is perfect walking through these sets. Additionally, we got a small jazz ensemble to provide soundtrack, and this is, without a doubt, my favorite game.

This is level 1:

Level 2, complete with lounge and kitchen.

Level 3 contains a kind of "boss" room from the intro animation (gonna post that later!):

Level 4 takes Volt outside and the hazards that threaten us all... like big, green pad mount transformers:

And as if you haven't had enough, here's the cinematic that opens the game. This particular version was designed for Power Point presentations, so you may find the type a little small in places, but it's essentially the same as in the game, except there's no card at the end - that's where the game begins.
Volt is just a little nuts - you get to see it in the game, but you get a little taste of it here, too. Our animator, Trever Barger, really captured the flavor I wanted from the character model (posted below). The backgrounds were created by the rest of the team and myself.

Zealot-Crazy-Talking in Public

2009-08-26T13:09:00.004-04:00

If you get a chance, come out and see me ramble on what little I know about storytelling in animation. I've spoken at SIGGRAPH twice - and always get enthusiastic feedback. If you're bopping around Indianapolis on September 10th... do stop by! And don't forget to register!

My Long Project is Over, Pt. 1

2009-07-31T13:13:00.007-04:00

Programming is still going on, but art for the long and winding Vectren Project is finished. My star team of three artists included Trevor Barger (animation), Sean Winburn (painting), and Jackie Crofts (painting). They stuck it out like real pros, enduring 5 am shifts, repeated art direction from me, 13 hours of Enigma albums, and courage in the face of retainer boredom! Stand and Salute... BROTHAAAAAA!
Here's a sample of the first game teaching Gas Safety(with more to come soon):

Concrete World "Healed":

Concrete World Broken:

Grass World:

Grass World Broken:

Dirt World:

Dirt World Broken:

And finally, Water World - which, in terms of design, production, and budget was not unlike Kevin Costner's Water World:

Water World Broken:

2009-07-26T00:34:00.002-04:00

Every day you don't get better is a day wasted. I expressed this on the fly (and whole-heartedly) to one of our fine artists working on the Vectren project, which concludes this coming Tuesday. On the downside, I put a little too much pressure on myself. But it's the kind of pressure I like. I'm looking for my own ability to see and conceptualize - I'm not looking for a freaking checkbox in a program that will be obsolete in 6 months...
We were trying to figure out backgrounds for an opening cinematic, and had settled on something relatively simple, when I started painting and getting some results that I liked. Though it's going to make us push our deadline to the last second, we're changing to the style posted above, or something like it. I hope it's worth it.
We still have thick woods to get through!

Untitled.

2009-06-23T22:47:00.000-04:00

Late Night Bulldogs

2009-06-22T00:08:00.003-04:00

It is late night, and I was trying to get a fix on some simple bulldog shapes. So with an image search and pencil in hand, I went to work.

Feels Like the First Time

2009-06-03T00:10:00.018-04:00

I was working with the Vectren team tonight, when I tried to describe for them how good my collaborator, the Illustration Brothel, is. I go to the blog and see that many of the pages I drew are in gorgeous color. I mean, I can only say I was... in awe. The reason I work with the "Brothel" so much is that I actually feel compelled to better myself. I feel lazy, and I immediately crack open my sketchbook and dig my pen tip in.

There's been so much going on. Since March, I've finished drawing the book that you can see (in much more impressive display) over at the Brothel. Here's my contribution:

I like this page because of the interaction of the girls. They're doing the kinds of things my sisters used to do to me, messing in my stuff and generally interrupting my nerd buzz. I love them.

This one took some thought - the most important being the sleeping bags, then the wide-open area. I know this will sound pretentious, but I did think of Hitchcock. The largest object having the most story importance. I also got a lot of inspiration from James Joyce's "Ulysses". Not!

I'm really proud of this one. I really tried to send home a sense of doom - albeit a humorous one. The Brothel followed up with color choices exceeding these decisions.

This one I'm happy with the expressions and body language of the girls, but the foreground stuff was rushed in at the last moment. It was a... well, it was all about the flashlight.

On the Vectren front, the electricity game hero had to be developed. They had an older character design already,

that simply needed a little adaptation. So it wasn't like I was starting from scratch.

Volt, or "Plughead" as we like to call him, has to be happy. I mean, he is dealing with electricity! And he has to be a good example to his son,

which, depending on which one we pick could be named "Volt Jr." or "Lil Volt". Our Project Lead, Jennifer Stewart really seemed to like Lil Volt. We'll see what happens.
Anyways, the expressions are the Lil Volt Happy Meter. Everytime Volt successfully disarms an electric hazard, lil Volt gets happier until he's about to explode in a prozaic-ridden ecstasy.

Finally, I just started on this space background for the Node World game (which you've been seeing sketches of below). Here, the ship (based on a propane tank; Our main character, Thermy, is emitted by a bunson-burner-style-pilot's seat)

floats in front of this space vista which takes too much memory to move, so we had to find something that made sense being stationary. A galaxy seemed good enough.

I've been working on other projects as well. But they're not as visually interesting as the stuff I showed you. Nevertheless, enjoy this parting shot:

If Only.

2009-04-20T00:47:00.004-04:00

It's been a most harrowing semester - and it's just 2 weeks short of being over. I just got finished grading some projects not too long ago, and I'm in a bit of a bad mood from seeing all the "not-trying". Another wasted moment in their college life. They should cry.
I've got big plans for the summer (not telling just now) and the hope is that I'll improve my digital painting skills. Something else I'd really like to do, but not sure if I will, is guitar lessons. We'll see.

Many Thanks

2009-03-06T22:13:00.002-05:00

...to the folks keeping me real on this blog. When I finish some concept work, I want it to stand up to public flogging, and if that flogging is complimentary - well, then I'm workin' it right.

More Vectren. But You Knew It was Coming.

2009-03-05T01:04:00.004-05:00

Lots of medical problems for my family, and my wife's family. Amongst all this, there's so much work to be done. I'm doing a third mouse book (which I legally can't post on this blog; only the rejected stuff), the Vectren game which includes the images above, and possibly further character design for Steampunk if I can squeeze it in.

Sometimes a drawing makes my future feel brighter.

2009-02-06T02:49:00.003-05:00

Overloaded!

2009-02-03T00:48:00.005-05:00

It is nice to be busy. It is also nice to relax once in a while! I've been working on Vectren, which you're sure to hear about for the next few months. This is Gaustin, our Gas-flame Astronaut, traveling the Galaxy in search of... Gas Leaks. Insert flatulence.
I also did a more heroic version - but I like the one above much more.

My Current Top 10.

2009-01-23T11:30:00.004-05:00

Yep, it's always changing.
But my top 10 movies of all time
currently stand like this:

1) The Iron Giant
2) All About Eve
3) Amelie
4) The Passion of the Christ
5) V for Vendetta
6) The Fifth Element
7) The Incredibles
8) Gattaca
9) Casablanca
10)Unbreakable

Now, there's a lot of other movies I could put on there that are nothing less than brilliant: Notorious, Munich, Spiderman 2, Ironman, Kung Fu Panda, Ratatoille, The Third Man, Terminator 2, Anything from Pixar, Saving Private Ryan, Bladerunner, The Good The Bad and the Ugly, the list goes on. I placed these movies here because of their repeat watchability, their worldview, and their stance against time. "V for Vendetta" I just put on there 2 weekends ago, because since it's release in 2005 I've watched it 5 times. It remains potent. My suspension of disbelief is solid through it. That's just my way of doing things. I loved "Schindler's List", but it tore me up inside to watch it. So it may be awesome, but it's hard to watch more than a couple of times.

7 Days in 3 Photos

2008-12-29T12:16:00.009-05:00

I've been cranking like crazy for the holidays. The first image is the ship from our "Broken" animation, as yet unharmed (I have to create further conceptuals of the damage it takes). It sports folding wings and a visible "arc reactor" ala Dr. Frankenstein's lab. The idea is that this is the first ship in space - and it is based on what an Earth-bound human already understands - birds and fish.

Next is our astronaut, our "Robinson Crusoe" if you will. I employed greek-inspired decoration for his suit. It just made him feel more mythical. I really dig this Steampunk stuff. It's fun to draw, it requires a lot of thought I wouldn't normally employ, and it takes a lot of time.

And lastly here's an image of what I do when I'm not working on this or Vectren:

Yep. Imagine straightening up your house during a tornado. Time has no meaning. The minutes warp by as if on crack, and you've no choice but to continue straightening. That's what tending to the pups is like. Except it's a little more funner than that.

Steampunk, "Broken"

2008-12-11T04:30:00.004-05:00

Just 3 weeks ago, I asked a couple of people if they wanted to enter CGtalk's Steampunk: Myths and Legends Contest. I came up with an idea that seemed to be a good starting point, and Clint came up with a great title: Broken. I assembled an animatic in between all the other things I have to do, and we've been working from it ever since. Some students at the school are joining us in our quest for CG glory, and with only 7 weeks to produce the thing - well, we've got our work cut out for us.
I have to work on Steampunk at night; my Vectren stuff during the day if ADD doesn't take me down some crazy path.

A Worm with a Thought

2008-12-10T15:40:00.009-05:00

I created these tiny web Animations for Mediasauce and then-art director Bryan Phillips (now with the Basement) a year ago. The idea was to engage viewers with a mascot personality using randomly loaded sequences. They created the Mediasauce worm, which would sit in the lower left-hand corner, below the main menu occupying itself. Though they only finished the first sequence, I felt the key/breakdown animation sans tweens showed the promise of a fun personality. At some point during the job, they kind of forgot I was working on this, and I didn't receive any communication from them. So I started messing with them at the end. Yes, aren't I a rascal?

Whatta Painter!

2008-10-31T09:59:00.004-04:00

You must totally check out the Illustration Brothel, where my colorless scratches are converted to objects of real value.

Pictured above are my initial concepts for a kid's game with Vectren Natural Gas Company. Hold the fart jokes! Anyway, Professor Matt Powers enthusiastically envisioned a floating "Node World" which I was very skeptical about in the beginning - but now I'm sold. If we can pull this game off, we'll seek kudos from other gaming afficionados... problem is, we have another less impressive game that Vectren will probably go for - a real snoozefest of crossword puzzles and fill-in-the-blank that they probably experimented with in 1950. We can hope!

2008-10-06T22:32:00.002-04:00

This page, finally tightened, is the first of many. Below, you can see the page in its layout stage following many incarnations (which I won't bore you with here).

Drawing is unappreciated these days, the alchemy of observation and vision. As much as I love animation, and as much as I enjoyed Animation Mentor, I missed the tenderness shared between my pencil and paper. Granted, it's digital paper, but it's no less magical. I also enjoy the problem-solving that goes into storytelling with a camera. I'm no Brad Bird - hell naw - but the puzzles of character against events and the camera that bears witness brings no end of fascination. I trade the machinations of medium for the tinkering of virtual dolls - but not with dismissal, only with favor.

Another children's book.

2008-09-27T18:23:00.003-04:00

I'm am sure at some point you will see these popping up on the olde Illustration Brothel, but here's the first round of editing in what I hope to finish in 10 days or less. I busted the layouts out in just under 3 days, but the drawing isn't as impressive as I could've executed. Hopefully, on the second pass (where I really have to visually commit) I'll nail down some good work.

My New Doghouse

2008-09-27T17:24:00.005-04:00

One day, my humans started takin all dey stuff outta da place which I rules - until it was empty and big enough to run around for real. I thoughts, "nice call, I like this betta". But then, we's come home to a differen place - where the stairs BE INSIDE. And guess what - I gets to run up and down dem! And by "run up and down dem", I means "all de time".

As it turns out: This is my HOUSE. The King has a HOUSE.

It has its own grass. Grass which I burns with my mazin speed. It has carpet, which burns my feets with my mazin speed. It has many windows - windows the King feels warm under. It has a neighborhood - which I keep out with my barks. It has many crannies - where I hides in ambush. It has a large park - where I unleash my charisma on many ladies (what can dey do? I's powerful). It has a new bed - which I claim underneath as my crib. Don't you doubt my power!
My humans can stay as long as I am well fed the way I likes.

Yet Another All-Nighter

2008-07-08T12:53:00.002-04:00

I love the mess I'm in! That's not a facetious statement; I really mean it! Though I've pulled a string of all-nighters in the last 3 months I love the stuff I'm doing. It's back to the drawing board... er, tablet. As much as I enjoyed Animation Mentor I missed the steady scratching sounds of drawing. I'm a planner, thinker, and overall observer - not just motion, but the aesthetic sense of all that expresses narrative. I'm not really sure where I'll end up, but I hope it's a good place.

The Home Stretch

2008-07-07T13:58:00.002-04:00

It's rather appropriate that "Slim" is running in this last pencil. I've got just a few more pages to go in this project, and it seems possible that another one is on the way. Iz is still bored with me.

Iz hates it when I work.

2008-07-02T16:40:00.002-04:00

I saw Iz laying in front of the door, waiting for something - anything - to happen to give him a reason to get excited, bark, or generally jump around. So far, he's only been presented the opportunity to stay still. So I drew him, in an effort to capture the natural appeal his lines create.

I Rule On Vacation

2008-06-23T12:24:00.009-04:00

My Humans took me on a long trip to the... um, "Beach". In my search for the perfect place to eliminates, I had my choice of the Eastern Unitey States during the drive. Not bad. Wherever we stops, I eliminates. My scent be on de whole half o de nation. Schnauzers bow to me!

We stop at a hotel, and my humans think I sleep in da bed wit dem, but dat's where I use my keen Schnauzer Noize Skillz. I hears a noize, I barks. I hears humans outside talkin I barks. I hears a cricket burp, and I barks. I'm bouncin da bed I's barkin' so loud! Den my humans put me in my comfy kennel - I likes it in dere, but I's not an effective Noize-Maker dere. I make sure I gets some deep growlin' in - jus to be sure them crickets keeps dere ground.

When we gets to our desty-nation, my Humans drop me off at this big kennel-type place - At first, I was mad, and I barks loud. Den, I sees I'm in de company of some righteous doggies. First we runs around like crazy and no one stop us. Den, we goes to our room which has a "toddler bed" - methinks it's a bed for righteous doggies. I has a TV, I has my own toys. Rocks.

My humans pick me up on day 3 and take me to dis place what has a lot of sand and a huge freakin' pool that taste nasty - like salt. I din like it. Then, they take me to meet all dees people. They seem cool enough, but not for dis awesome Schnauzer. I got my Righteous Doggies waitin fo me.

When I returns to de "toddler bed" place, we get da party started again. But this time, I gots 3 other Schnauzers joinin me. Two hot ladies, and a righteous whitey Schnauz! I laid down de "wild" like Lassie laid down the goody-goody. Wasn't pretty, which made it awesome. We had a howlin contest and nobody could stop us. Then we raise cain in the pen, then on the floor, then in the yard, then all over! Barkin and howlin and clawin and bitin. One dog started yelling, "Tear up our beds! Tear up our beds!!! Now!!!" I toe up my bed till de springs was showin. Dere are many tings I regret. Dere are many tings I plan to do again - namely the tings I regret. Humans bow to me!

When my humans pick me up, I pretend to be sane. They did looks at me funny when de naive man handed dem a yellow paper (remember to tear up later). Dey know nothin.
Now we home, and everythin like normal. Sucks. So I makin a plan to escape and run to this "Beach". Dere, my Righteous Doggies wait for me. Next time, we gon desecrate the reputation of Lassie like never be-foe.

Lata, Human. Move along!

Keep on Rolling.

2008-05-30T18:58:00.001-04:00

I think I'll leave the design on the blog alone for a while. This will do until the day I have time to kick it in design gear.

Curse you Illustration Brothel!

2008-05-27T23:45:00.005-04:00

The diligence of the Illustration Brothel is putting to shame the lax posting of the Zealot. Here's my attempt to catch up!

Sappy Alert

2008-05-06T16:30:00.009-04:00

I'm tightening today's drawing,

and I end up taking a break and talking to an old friend from college - with whom I worked for about 3 years in a little town called Tifton. It was truly a magical time; I was drawing and writing 4 hours a night. I was improving by leaps and bounds! But best of all, I had great friends.

Matt was the very picture of the meticulous craftsman, specializing in mediums like pencil that work in tiny areas and build up in layers:

We often got together to play computer games and the like, or catch a movie, and we lifted weights until I moved from there.

Richard got Matt the job above, because he was a regular with Beckett magazine for a while:

Richard was meticulous like Matt, but his personality was easy, slow, and understated, which made him hilarious as hell. We all worked at a billboard company called Tri-State Systems, in an art department during the early 90s recession. I felt inspired to draw and get better. The fact that Richard shared his regular gig with Matt was so cool - I was offered, too but I wasn't a huge football fanatic like him and I didn't have a lot of confidence in my illustration skill then.

I am slowly getting back to that lifestyle of drawing, and I'm more driven and happier. I loved Animation Mentor, such classic knowledge and such advanced technique with the most cutting-edge of software. I think I enjoy the drawing more, though.

This is an older set, but I've taken to drawing our dog Izzy (who sometimes writes in this blog, paws-to-keys) as a character:

This Layout Sucks.

2008-05-05T22:30:00.009-04:00

Okay, my blog has a new look. But not for long!
I committed a design sin: I designed on the computer with no sketching or planning to back it up. Now I'm reaping the rewards of that sin: A crappy-looking blog. I just went in willy-nilly and screwed with my promotional website docs. Re-workings are already on order. (the layout you see up on the blog now is not what I'm talking about).

On the bright side, here's a little illo project I'm working on with Mr. Baldwin (The Illustration Brothel) : a Japanese children's book that teaches English. Talk about having clear storytelling! It's got to be spot-on! Here's my first layout:

That's a fun one. Lots of fun perspective distortion and everything.
Please refrain from looking at the blog - but look at the drawings as much as you like. Here's the female mouse character Martha:

Animation Mentor, Session 2

2008-04-09T20:21:00.004-04:00

Well, it was a hair-raising quarter in session 2. I started off with a really horrible 180º turnaround, then got a little better, and a little better. There was only 4 days between the end of Winter, and the beginning of Spring. 3 days before Winter session ended, I got really sick. I was sore all over, and even talking on the phone made me take a nap afterwords. I was coughing horrendously, too - a freaking, coughing, movie-watching, nap-taking zombie. By Sunday (day before Animation mentor Spring Session 3) my condition was worse. I went to the doctor on Monday cause I ached all over. Bronchitis/Sinusitis. 6 days strict bedrest.

This led to a horrible decision: I had to take a leave of absence for session 3, which I now take in the summer. Man, I hated having to do that, but knowing how much I fight to keep up (and by 'keep up' I mean 'figure out why the rig is behaving this way'), it just seemed sane. Now, all my buds are a class ahead of me - which I'm happy for them, but it makes me feel a little left out.

Best Time to Play.

2008-03-03T21:09:00.003-05:00

There be 1 time of day that be best for playing and gen'ral frolic'in: Now.

Now My Turn.

2008-02-27T22:00:00.002-05:00

I mayz be a pup. But I knows a blogger when I sees one. I don't sees one.
I like this picture. Two words: "Wrapped" and "Little Pinkie". That's MY chair. I chose it, sure as I choose the spot where I eliminates.

Now, sometimes my Humans leave. And dat is when the freegin party begins. There is stuff on the floor, big stuff, don't know why I didn't notice it before. Point is I do now. And nothing feels betta on my teeth than the stuff I ain't noticed before. I cut through it like butta. I eat it like butta. But I don't swallow it - I display it on the floor. And though the stuff is tiny, it cover a big space. By "big", I mean it gets a rise out of my Humans. And that what the display be all about.

My humans tried somethin new on me. They make me pee in a box. Now, I no smart, but I knows a dumb idea when I sees it. And I saw it. It was that pee box. So I say to myself, "Iz - how long before they know I won't pee in the box.?" Three days. This dumb on my part, cause I held it so long I was feelin puny. But when I throwed up, that was the end of the box. Then it not seem so dumb. It seem smart. End of box.

I am king. I rule here. Move to da next blog, human.

I'm posting a Good One

2008-02-27T21:46:00.006-05:00

Now this is me getting serious. There is so much in my skillset that I want to be better, but this represents a "satisfying session of conception". There's a lot of investigation that went into caricaturing the body and face (this image was prepared specifically to show the progression; it's not this way in my sketchbook). There's nothing in it from my iconic cartoon memory. Very satisfying. Now, some of my Animation Mentor buds want to start posting sketches, so I think I'll post this one even though it's older. Then I'm really going to pour in the investment and start some daily drawing that matters. Click on the image to see it at 100%.

I'm Posting A Bad One.

2008-02-27T20:22:00.003-05:00

I'm posting this drawing because it was virtually a waste of time. Of course, I learned a lesson from it, but it's bad for so many reasons. One, It's a little face based on all my iconic cartoon library images - stuff I don't think about. I also didn't try to make it dimensional at all. Next time, I'll post some stuff I'm REALLY trying to get right. Sorry to waste your time. Don't even read this freakin' thing. Skip it.

If I Felt Like Blogging, you'd be the first to Know.

2008-02-27T20:17:00.001-05:00

First Semester Finshed

2008-01-10T01:50:00.001-05:00

at Animation mentor. My progress reel is here:

The largest hurdles I have to climb are technological. It's one thing to know how to sculpt a good key pose, it's quite another to have it connect properly to the others! There's many a young whippersnapper in these classes, plus a lot of film experience. Just some crazy-mad Maya folk. I love meeting the people and seeing great work and working my brain analyzing it all, but bottom line is, I want to be better. Let's see if I've any gusto left in my worn-out soul to do it.

I Rule. But confused about things.

2007-12-18T19:20:00.001-05:00

I am Cute. There no splanation fo it. Just am. And I get things wi my Cute. But there are many thing I don't get. It a puzzal to me. Me can't spell good or talk good, but I give happenings to describe:

When I eliminates, there be a perfect place it should go. I know that perfect place. When I finds it. It takes a time, but I will finds it. My Human doesn't think so, but that not make it NOT SO! Yet, My Human gets impatient when I search for my perfect place for eliminates. I sacrifice greatly for my chosey spot. I holds, holds, holds, quiver, and holds - Then I goes. But olly when it ih perfect.
I thoughts my Human impatient, but now there snow on de ground, and I takes MUCH longer to find my perfect place, and he tuggin and grumpin and complainin. But me standards non-nee-gosh-able. And so it go. I still find time to eats my eliminates, but olly indoors.

When I pee, no perfect place there. Just go! There be a compromise here. I hope he see dat.

My tooths hurt. But when I sinks dem into things - anythings - they feels good. Like a body rub. I likes doin it. My Human give me things, things be "Okay for Tooth-Sinkin", and I sometimes comply. And sometimes I don't. A lot. A LOT of times I sometimes don't. I find things, things ready and 'vailable. The edge of de carpet. The corner wood on de wall (mash!). Flesh. That's my fave. It mash real good and easy to get cause they alway tryin-da pets me! He dangle that fleshy flesh flesh a nail's length from my tooths without my neck out, then I sticks my neck out. And I sinks my tooths. My tooths stop hurtin fo 1 second, then he scream like little mouse. My pup mates bit back, but my Human does not. Good deal.

Just got my jewels removed. Look at me! Why not make more oh me? But dey's gone. Foh-eva. My Human tell me he LOVES me. So what gives? He got lots ah friends - but none of they's jewels come off. They there, cause I stick my nose there - they there. Does he LOVE, or does he LIE? I think de answer be written in the plastic cone round my neck that makes me hear bettah.

I tell you mo. Latuh.

Busy Bakson. Busy. Bak son.

2007-11-16T00:35:00.000-05:00

My animation mentor education is so much fun, and you get crazy views like this:

I created this keyframe animation, all on hold-frames, and now that's the only way it looks right. Many AMer's are quite web-savvy, which I am not, and they know how put images like this in their messages to one another. I'm slowly figuring it out.

We also have a new member of the family: Izzy.

Between him, my job, my job, and my education, life is getting pretty interesting. Like a Michael Moore documentary.

The Really Not-So-Awesome List

2007-09-09T00:15:00.000-04:00

In the tradition of Jennifer Stewart's "Not Awesome" Lists comes tonight's Really Not Awesome List:

- Virginia Buckley

- Allergist

- The Dream House

- paying to see the Dream House

- Mary Kay

- Crappy Faux Finishing

- Freakin' Bitches

- Jerks

- Yellow

- Eye Dilation

- Your Mom knowing People

- Zelda's Quirks

- Dominos falling

- Marilyn

- Camera Phone

- IRS

- Aids (in Africa)

- Keeping up a Blog

My Pattern.

2007-09-05T18:58:00.000-04:00

Wake up. Hit 'Snooze'. Repeat 8 times.
Breakfast. Devotional. Shower. Work. Spaz.
Work. Save. Render. Save. Work. Work. Work. Render.
Xbox. Forget something. Get a phone call: forgot something.
Calm pissed-off friend. Take the blame. Friendship goes on.
Work. Sleep 3 hours. Repeat.

2007-09-04T00:55:00.000-04:00

I'm WAY over-committed! A storyboard project for a 3-minute pilot, the standard class stuff, a conference paper (YAAAWWWWNNNN), a 4-minute animatic, preparation for school, and of course, living. My deadlines all seem to coalesce on September 18th at which time I will stand back and re-assess my tendency to say "yes".
As meager recreation, I just finished a classic book, "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding. First of all, if you said to yourself, "HE hasn't read...?" you need to shut that flapper and get over it. The quarter system completely spoiled me. If you don't remember this book, re-read it. The last third I read in a single sitting; a real nail-biter.
I'm a bit ill right now. No, not physically, but mentally. I just finished 3 hours worth of grading - that already pisses me off, cause grading only extends my ability to analyze - then I look at "The Blackwing Diaries" Sketchbook and HOLY TOLEDO I feel like a complete loser. Bad Zealot! (bangs head on desk).

The Not-Awesome List for July 22nd, 2007

2007-07-22T23:17:00.000-04:00

These things are, very simply put, NOT awesome:

• My Neck

• My dried-up contacts

• child molesters

• the unibomber

• Disappointing Character 1

• Hot fries Diarrea

• Let-down of a Personality 2

• Global Warming

• Made-up crap.

• receiving RedBlocks.

• paying for Harry Potter thrice, not seeing once, but seeing a woman throw up.

• bitches

• AIDs in Haiti

• Informatics

• Web work

• being at work at 8:30

BTW

2007-07-09T12:44:00.001-04:00

Check out this ironic online advertisement posted with "Fight Club". (If you've seen the movie "Fight Club", and you know it's themes inside and out, you'll understand)

What kind of closet defines me as a person?

Just Saw Transformers

2007-07-09T11:15:00.000-04:00

Yes, I gave in. And let me tell you this movie is absolutely BRILLIANT. From a marketing, product placement, and flexible budget standpoint. Plot: This giant Rubrik's Cube can change ANY electronic device (read: product placement)into a living, mechanical organism. The decepticons are after the cube to...take over the universe...and the Autobots must stop them. The autobots can change into any vehicle they scan (read: automotive product placement) and try to fight the other bots out of view of humans (read: cheap shooting locations until the end, when you can bring them in public for an all-out fight). They also learn English by browsing the World Wide Web!!!!! (read: any website product placement) Brilliant!
From a storytelling standpoint, Michael Bay's brillance at storytelling isn't so shiny - He doesn't know the meaning of "restraint"; in other words, when to TAKE SOMETHING OUT so it's more powerful. The music blares the entire movie, only stopping to take in redundant, action-describing dialogue or obnoxious sound effects and explosions. For example, the ice is breaking underneath the explorers' feet, they yell, "THE ICE IS BREAKING". When they pick up the escaping soldiers, the voice-over says, "Get'em home" when a single cut back home could say that better. I mean, the actors WON'T SHUT UP! If you don't believe me, watch it again for clarity. They won't shut up!
Bay has a lot of style backed by no sense of timing. The whole movie rolls by at a breakneck pace to cover all the material specifically designed to cover the widest possible audience. For example: Captain Lennox of the escaping force talks to his wife and kid, saying he's coming home soon. 30 seconds. We see a reaction shot of the wifey at home. 5 seconds. They reunite at home. 10 seconds. Just because Commander Cody, or Lennox, or whatever-his-name-is can kick some robot ass, that doesn't mean I'm going to care about him. And people won't STOP TALKING! And what's with those football villians imported from the 80s?
But with all the money made on this bitch from advertising, Bay can now independently finance his dream film. And that's how this merry-go-round works. Can you blame him? I would've done it! Bay: will you give me a job?

It all starts with a simple...

2007-06-03T19:08:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful Sunday! Perfect day for crunch time in a dark lab working on a piece of motion graphics!
The image above is a cel I saved. I was inking day after day, staying late, when all of a sudden animator Joe Peery was looking for someone to quickly animate Scooby-Doo. I stood up and said "I can do it!" This cel was the first one in the sequence, and when Joe saw it he said (paraphrased) "Gee, why don't we have you doing more animation?" It felt amazing to be validated by an animator of Joe's caliber.

2007-05-12T23:39:00.000-04:00

Sometime when my fellow employees in the insane world of Academia are down, I draw a little picture to bring them back to happy land. So, I created these two overweight schemers who have nothing better to do than scheme, lie, and fabricate facts since they don't really have real jobs. You may not think this is funny, but I do.

It's been happening right under your nose

2007-05-04T11:33:00.000-04:00

This picture has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. It's a freebie.

I hesitate to say this, but...I'm an Academic. Though there are things I like about it, I'd say I'm pretty unhappy. I don't know if all institutions of learning are like this one but I must say it is mired by unscrupulous characters.

Let's define "unscrupulous".

Years ago, I was working in the art department of a fast and busy T-shirt company. At the time, we owned a single art computer: A Macintosh IIsi. The Quadra, a significantly faster computer, had just come out and my boss wanted one. The IIsi was slow. Adjusting the art by one click of the cursor keys in Photoshop meant around 5 - 10 minutes of waiting. Pressure!!
I came into work to start on a tight deadline project (ALL of them were tight deadline projects!) to find an empty computer desk. Everything, including my personal disk, had been stolen. Outside, car tracks on the lawn indicated the point of exit. The Police were called and the place was dusted; it looked like we all worked in a mechanic's shop and left greasy fingerprints on everything.
My boss and I set out to make a record of the equipment for the insurance company. Like anybody would do, we "guesstimated" the cost of things rather than going through the long ordeal of research. (The internet wasn't a household name, yet).
The next day, one of our new employees, nicknamed "Dizzy B" showed up with artwork from his brand spankin' (or should I say 'breakin') new Mac IIsi. He was promptly fired as punishment with no report to the police. My boss, in turn, bought the new Mac Quadra. Good trade.

Okay, picture people with less scruples than these people. That describes 20% of the people in my Department. It's very complex, but the state of academia virtually encourages their lack of scruples.

Another Day in the Trenches

2007-05-03T21:33:00.000-04:00

Hey. I'm just now settling down at home with the lovely wifey. I've just finished reading "Man's Search For Meaning" by Victor Frankl and it' s good stuff. I don't know if you've ever read it but it concerns the discovery/practice of the psychotherapeutic method of Logotherapy. It says a lot about the human condition through the author's personal experience in Nazi concentration camps. I could say a lot more, but for now I'll just say, there's some real Nazis in Hollywood.
Here's my favorite storyboard panel I draw'd this week:

I'm trying so hard

2007-04-28T00:49:00.000-04:00

I'm just not great on this blogging thing. I've recently been working for a studio in town that I really like. Above is one of the storyboard panels (1 of 32) that I draw'ed. I've also been quite busy with a animated series submission. We'll see how that turns out! I've also been working on my website and thought I might include a screen shot of it.

As a matter of fact, I did include a screen shot of it. I've been working on it on and off the past hundred years plus a month. But I think I'm finally almost virtually certainly probably ready to let it go and post it. I think.

Peace, Love.

2007-01-23T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hello, Big Nothing.
I'm getting a little tired of the "Tax Man". I buy food, I get taxed. I buy entertainment, I'm taxed. I'm taxed for clothing. I'm taxed for water, heat, electricity. I'm taxed for my obligation to register my vehicle. And then, at the beginning of the year, my income and everything I make is taxed - 40%, almost half. They're screwing me when the money comes in, and they're taking it when the money goes out. When I park too long at a meter, I'm charged 20 dollars. Just take it out of my account which is fat and well-funded and freaking enforced by this fine government. That's why I - hard-working and long-suffering - can't get ahead. Because I give 40% of my hard-earned dollars just to keep my government in its trillion-dollar debt

2006-05-31T12:57:00.000-04:00

Does anyone remember the comments of George Lucas (of 'Star Wars' fame) concerning the "new church"? It's the movie theatre.
I believe his comment is accurate. In another century, people went to their house of worship and attended as an escape, an answer to problems, a place to gather wisdom and apply it to their lives. Now people harness the movie theatre for the same reason. The 'movie theatre' is any place movies are viewed as a sacred space - your home, the theatre itself, online. As long as it maintains your full attention; you're not cleaning house while watching, say, "American Beauty". Brad Bird, in his post-Oscar interview for the press, called for a return to the "cathedral of the movie theatre". In this comment, he excludes home theatre because he wants the movie experience to be within a community of people. But I'm talking about movie-viewing not as a community experience but strictly as a worship experience.
In many ways, this new form of worship is a comfort. 'Good' Movies (There's a lot of subjectivity here, but suffice it to say that a 'good' movie garners positive meritocratic opinion by people concerned with story construction. That is, people who look at the plausibility and impact of the story regardless of the content.) allow us to see and experience things despite our level of caution or recklessness. They help us develop emotional intelligence; a way to see from other points-of-view and extrapolate feelings that aren't ours. But I think this only works when we have a foundational belief template in place. When this template is absent I think the damage to a person is extensive in proportion to the amount of belief template absent.
In our melting pot and, thankfully, our semi-free govenmental endorsement on religion we have the ability to choose this belief template. But powerful cultural forces - namely movies - write some of the rules for these choices as well. Let's just say they curve the belief tendencies towards a certain pattern that I don't think is necessarily healthy.
I probably love raw storytelling as an art more than movies, but I love movies as they encompass the best storytelling culture currently has to offer. But I think movies, in a word, have become too influential.

2006-05-31T11:50:00.000-04:00

I don't know if you've noticed (you haven't, there's no comments, ever) but I'm more of a "blogger-of-convenience" than a blogger outright.

2006-05-23T17:32:00.000-04:00

It seems I got into a fight with my boss today over what is rational and what isn't. I hope this doesn't screw my chances for a raise.

2006-05-16T00:43:00.000-04:00

I was thinking in this late hour. Blogging is really a form of narcissism, yes? I mean, why would I broadcast private thoughts if not to hope that the world notices them? So, I HATE to get political, but something has been chiseling at my mind. It's the political climate of our fair land. I know you know what I'm talking about; the endless circle - left insults right, vice versa. Republican prosecutes Democrat, vice versa. Conservatives blame Liberals and vice versa. But here's what bothers me and I beg of you to hear me out on this. Who is most vocal in these arenas? Often, I think you'll find a common denominator amongst these outspoken: they believe strongly in their side whatever that side happens to be. I would not call them objective thinkers; I think there is a time that they consider their decision and choose, then years after they abandon this decisive capability in favor of political activism.
Here, I turn to the studies of the Gottman Institute. After nearly 10 years of careful, concise study they've found that when an argument is taking place the blood pressure of all parties involved rises. When this blood pressure rises above a certain point, the person is unable to think objectively - they will assert and re-assert their point repeatedly and without rationality and stop listening to the other party. This is called "escalation".
The stronger a person feels about a particular thing, the quicker their blood pressure will climb and the quicker their reasoning capabilities disappear. Outspoken people are passionate, and sometimes they simply can't be reasoned with. We need these people, but entire systems of media and government can't be composed of these people.
So here I propose my first "Crazy Talk". Why not create a party that intelligibly weighs policy, vote, and law not from traditional idealogy, but from wisdom itself? A party that looks at issues very carefully in context to history and studies their results to see that their mechanisms behave as planned and that these plans insure longevity and sanity rather than the short-sighted victory of a side that is simply louder, more brash, and has more promotional money? These people would be zealots not of Liberalism, or Conservativism, or Democracy, or the Republic - but zealots of Rationalism.

2006-05-01T12:54:00.000-04:00

I was just wondering: why have a blog? Why post your thoughts?
What if my thoughts were dumb? If I just kept them to myself, I would never know they were dumb - I'd be pretty happy with them, I guess. But now that I'm posting, I'm sure the multitudes will alert me, "Hey, man - your thoughts - I hate to tell you this - but they're dumb."
No post today.