Putting things in perspective...

Both figuratively, and literally... Here is my 'vanilla' walk from my first term at AM. There's still plenty more to tweak in it. I'm pretty sure at this point there always will be.

Happy Holidays!

Retooling

Hey all-

I apologize for the hiatus. I just finished my first term with AM! Time is flying now between work and school.

I've been spending the week refining my personality walk, because I've been extremely dissatisfied with it. Basically, I'm shaving it down to the essential personality in a stride. Through using one stride four times, I hope the trait will be repeated enough to convey the personality.

The lesson? If you want to get your point across, sometimes explaining it four different ways only confuses the viewer. Just show them the point four times.

I will post the new block soon. Stay tuned and happy holidays!

Playing

I'm super busy with working fulltime and AM. So sometimes, if I'm on hold at work, I just want to play. When I keep track of the doodles, I'll put 'em up here as proof that I can still be silly like it's my job.

Balance Revision

Alright here is my Balance pose after lots of tweaking...

Balance

The pose test this week is for Balance. What do you think?? Maybe I just really wish I were ice-skating and enjoying the holidays... I need Dutch!

Getting tired...*

Calling all cars- I can use all the help I can get here. ...Just getting started on this personality walk and blocking it out. I'm going for that slow stroll you do when you are on the phone and wandering aimlessly. YOU KNOW the one... But I've got a 100 frame count! So I think I might have to cut that foot rock I've got started at the front? Help me out. Find me the time! ;)

*Updated video Sat the 8th*

Pushing it...

Ok here's the next version. Thank you for all for all your comments (posted or otherwise ;) ! I hope to post my stepped personality walk and revised canned walk this weekend. Stay tuned!

I've seen this pose before...

This week, the pose exercise is to capture 'exhaustion.' Here is my first blocking out of my pose. There are lots of spots that bother me about it, so let me know what you think. I know that slack arm bothers you too... How would YOU adjust the shoulders?


And secondly, this is my pose from last week with a few changes made. The pose goal is 'concern.' What would you change?
Thank you, friends. I hope you are all happy and healthy!

Character Preliminary Designs

I've been crafting out a team of superheros for a friend of mine at a local game company. Here are some of my notes... I have a lot of uploading and finalizing to do in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.

This week, in AM...

The assignment for the pose study, is 'concern.' The assignment for the animation of the week, is to spline the stepped walk from last week. I'm running into all kinds of fun with IK Snap, as the kids say... Anyway, even though I've turned these in, I would still love the feedback if you have comments and critiques. I will always go back and revise things to make them better.

My most current...

Tweaking...Help me out

Walk 3- With Rotations

Walk it out!

Troy, Listen- I Gotta Go My Own Way

The pose subject this week is strength.

I would like to find some inner strength. Anyhow, we've got childbirth and some yoga. I might also use the yoga for the balance exercise which is comign down the pipe later...

Lemme know what's working and what could be better. Thanks for all the help friends.

Tailor...

Well newsflash: Animation is really effing hard. And parts of it come extremely naturally to me, and other parts... I'm struggling. And, I'm pushing myself?

Sketchbook Update

Sketches from the bus, the Starbs, and even a little boy from my church.

The thing is, I have usually, about three active sketchbooks going at a time. I've got a little one that comes with me everywhere. These sketches are from that book. Then, every so often, I scan in the last week's pages. I also have a larger book I keep by the computer for AM work and notes or other doodles which occur at my workstation. Then I have one which I keep in my bedroom for those "right-when-I-wake-up," thoughts, or the almost delirious, "one-more-thing-before-I-go-to-sleep," sketches.

24-0, Seahawks over 49ers

Hey friends-
Had a talk with a friend on Sunday, about fueling your creative fire. And basically, the summary of that is, in order to appreciate, excell, and love what you do, you gotta stay well-rounded enough to keep it in perspective. I spent lots of time celebrating my sister's achievements, goin to church with mom, and watchin football with dad. But, you know how I like to multi-task...

Pendulum5

Here's what I submitted. Let's see how much better it gets AFTER the critique...

Pendulum- Polishing

Here are more edits...

Pendulum Option 2- First Pass

Lots to tweak here, but I needed to post SOMETHING before work. Just so I can feel some sense of agency... So if you spot those areas where things are weird, yeah you know what I'm talking about, please feel free to holler your thoughts. It'll really speed me up, I'm sure! Thanks, friends!

I love the library

So here's what's up. I love the library. Not only interesting learning, books, and endless source material in a tangible format, but a children's section! So I sat and read about Walt Disney and drew THE most adorable little boy ever. Unreal. And he was so full of energy! He ran around for almost an hour!

Also, with the simple pendulum test nearing completion, I'm entertaining the thought of pushing into option 2... Although, I'm anticipating some trouble making a smooth path of action in few frames. (In terms of the curve of the driving force making that spiral in about 14 frames.)

Pendulum (First Pass)

Pushing...

Pose Tests

Here are some poses for this week's attitude test. Critiques, please! Which is most clear, and what would you say the attitude of the pose is?

Obstacle Course- First Go

Beach Ball with Bowling Ball Part 3

Beach Ball with Bowling Ball Part 2

Almost done. This is the work from yesterday. Please leave your notes. Thanks!

Beach Ball with Bowling Ball

Doodles from the Third Place eatery...

Beach Ball Part 2

So here are the most recent revisions to the beach ball. I've added the trans-z and rotate-x. I'm trying something just a touch different on every bounce, so lemme know what you see. I need all the feedback I can get, seriously! Thanks friends.

Revision Work

Here's my old pose, here's my new pose. Thoughts?

Ball 4 - Take Your Base

Pose test

In addition to the ball, I am also developing attitudes in my poses. What do you see, and how can I make it clear?

Baller

Here's the third pass. I see plenty of little things, but what do YOU see?

.847

Babe Ruth's 1920 Slugging Percentage. No lie.

We've gone horizontal!

Boy, do I need lots of help with this. I'm trying lots of different things, so the important thing is for you to tell me what you see. Any tips from animators and such are more than encouraged! Thanks all!

LeBron James!

Hey so here's the basketball bounce I'm working on. This one is just the y-translations. I'll add the horizontal movement tomorrow. Goodnight!

Keeping up with the Jones'

Here's a drawing from a figure drawing session I attended on Sunday. I haven't been to a figure drawing sesh in FAR too long... Also below are some of my gesture sketches from a trip to the library.





Side note: While at the library, I picked-up Neal Gabler's "Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination." So far it's been fascinating. Also I grabbed, "Bombers: An Oral History of the New York Yankees." Also fascinating. It's unreal to read about Babe Ruth and the 1932 World Series. The connecting thread here? Several, time period, American history, larger than life icons... the list goes on... I'll keep you posted on these reviews as I read.

Day in the Life 3

Here's a look at the SUITEst part of the ballpark...

Our main desk

Entrance to the Owner's Box

The view from the top...

So I just downloaded Quicktime Pro, and need to get that logo in there. There is a lot to do- clearly!

Day in the Life 2

Part two:

I walk around this way to the Third Base Entry, for the Diamond Club and Front Office...

Here's the lobby

Here's my old Concierge badge. I think I need to get a new one... But haven't gotten to that yet.

And the elevators!
(You can't wait to see what's next, can you??)

The Day in The Life

So this is long overdue-
This is a combination of my life in the Mariners Suites over the summer and my desk in the Front Office as well...

Ugh just woke up...

My park and ride in Kenmore

My stop!

The Seahawks are right across from Center Field...

Stay tuned.. I'm gonna load these in installments!

Homework ROCKS

Here are some poses based on sketches from this week. Please let me know what you think before I throw 'em to the dogs...

How do the attitudes read? Is the action clear? Or, what is happening? Silhouettes are a lot trickier with a rigid rig... You can't the same as with a drawing... So I need your help!