Hamster Slapfight

I don't know what this is or why I drew it, but this made Azure squeak.

Sketchbook Vol. 1

The sketchbook's been sent to the printers and should arrive in time for the convention. It's a full-color 16-page mini-book. I decided to keep it direct and simple, and I'm pretty pleased with the result. The book has a number of new sketches that haven't been seen on this blog as well as some old favorites of last year and prior.

It's a limited first printing, but if people like it enough I will put in another order. In the meantime it's back to work on Doc Flamingo and a few other things.

A Start

Rough pencils for the first panel of Doc Flamingo. So much to draw in these first four pages. More to come!

I'm in the middle of hurriedly compiling a sketchbook to send to the printers later this week. My wife and I have been invited to teach and speak at the 3rd Media Art and Animation Forum at the Art Institute of Washington in January. This year they've turned it into a full convention with an artist alley. A lot of great people are on the guest list, so I've got to try and get something good together to show. I'll be posting the cover in the next day or so.

A few from last week's ASIFA session:

ASIFA Drawing Session #12

Lot of designing to do this week. It's another large amount of work I won't be able to post for a while. Woo!

In the meantime, here's stuff from tonight's ASIFA. From 1-5 minute poses. Click for a large view:

ASIFA Pose Sessions #11

From tonight's ASIFA session. 1-3 minute poses:

From the sketchbook:

Flash Practice

Messing around in Flash. I'm not sure who he's boxing yet or why, but I admire his positive attitude.

Thumbs, ASIFA Pose Sessions #10

Working to get back into a steady drawing groove. I started thumbnailing the first pages of Doc Flamingo. I want each panel to challenge myself with new angles and compositions I don't often get the chance to draw. I'd like to carry this discipline over to my next upcoming storyboard project.


From tonight's ASIFA session:

Gleeborg

I'm able to break out the brush-pen again with the nice smooth new sketchbook. Some randomness in-between breaks at the ASIFA sessions:

And a few samples from the last two classes. It's taking me longer to get back into the life-drawing groove I had last year, but I'm starting to get more confident.

I've been thumbnailing Doc Flamingo all week. A little photo research left to go and I should be able to start posting page layouts.

Rendering #6

F-2B pencils. The sixth in the series. I'm almost finished with the AquaBee super deluxe sketchbook. A few more pages left to go. I'm back to a brand new good ol' hardcover square sketchbook fresh for new ASIFA sessions and a whole bunch of storyboard and comic work coming up the next couple of months.

Sketchbook Backlog

My sketchbook has been filing up with randomness for a while but I haven't been posting much of late. Next week I start a new sketchbook and I begin working in earnest on a comic with Andrew. And as soon as I'm able, start work on my book with Kyle.

A few jam sketches with my wife:




From ASIFA sessions, assorted goings-on, and what-have-yous:


I'm also working on updating my photography blog. There's a lot of new pictures I need to go through. I'd like to get back to regular/semi-regular posting.

A Couple Overdue Sketches

Comic Strips

It's been a very busy past couple of weeks, and my posting has been suffering for it. Let's make up some lost time here with a big post.

I just completed a commission of a bunch of physics-themed black-and-white comic strips. It was a quick project and I'm pretty pleased with the results. I had to do a bit of quantum physics research to come up with the material, which was more enjoyable than I thought. It was especially fun coming up with the signatures of me imaginary cartoonists. Some of the jokes had to be a bit cheesy, but I had a lot of fun coming up with them. Azure assisted inks on five of the pen-inked strips. She also did the awesome Chaz Addams tone washes on two of them!

Doodles

I've been asked to bring some more cartoony, less-realstic work into my portfolio. I've started some free-form doodling to try to loosen up.

Back From SDCC

Back from the con inspired to get back to work. I'll try write a comprehensive account if I can find the time. I'm excited to be drawing some comic pages again. With luck Andrew and I will have something ready for Emerald City Con. I'm still searching for him, but Doc Flamingo's starting to come together in these sketches.


Joint sketch with Pedro.


I've been missing the ASIFA sessions lately because of work. But I managed to make it to the tail-end of the last session and get some practice with the brush pen.

Animation Demo Reel JULY 2009

We're in the middle of the Conic-Con and it's been a blast. Here's my most currently edited animation demo reel.
Run Time: 1:38 minutes
Media: 2D Flash animation, pencil, stop-motion, 3D Maya

Rendering #4

Number Four in the series. Started the new Maya animation today. The focus of this one is camera placement and secondary motion. Updates to follow.

Rendering #3

I'm enjoying this new sketchbook. Life drawing class starts today. I have much still to learn.

Rendering #2 -- Refined

I wasn't quite happy with #2 yesterday so I went back and pushed the values more.

Rendering

--Edit-- See above post for finished #2 piece.

Gots me a new brand new sketchbook. Working from a pose photo book in lieu of this season's life-drawing sessions.

A Finished First Run-Cycle

The completed Maya run-cycle. I took some great advice from animator Dave Strandquest and tried to put a little more gravity and secondary motion into the run.

Holding Pattern

Last weekend we packed up and moved into the new place. We won't be getting cable and internet until July 14, when the cable company finally decides to come by and plug the converter box into the wall. In the meantime, updates will be spotty at best, but I'm working on a much more complicated Maya animation, and a few other Flash pieces besides.

I haven't been able to draw much since I left Brooklyn three weeks ago, but I plan to get back into the swing of things this weekend once the mountain of stuff is moved off my drawing table and the area surrounding it.

More posts (hopefully) soon!

Maya: A Second

Gave a run cycle a try. Here's it from the front:



The side:



And in the round:



The journey continues.

I've been in the process of moving these past couple of weeks so I haven't been able to post any drawings lately. We finish the move next week so once I get my drawing table and scanner back I should have new things to post soon!

Flash Painting

Experiment with painting and illustration completely in Flash. It was a new process of discovery and adventure. I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Maya: A Beginning

My very first attempt at animating in Maya, or anything 3D at all for that matter. I had a two day crash course and mostly learned the buttons by feel. I ended up treating the program with a very 2D sensibility, by ignoring all the helpful tools and doing things the hard way. I post this with the intent of kicking the shit out of it with a brand new 3D walk in the next week.

ASIFA Pose Sessions #8

The last few model sessions. This week's was the last one of the season, so I will have to make it to the Met, the Natural History Museum, and the zoo more often now. I'd like to find a model session where I can do a nice long pose study. As it is, these sketches are 1-5 minute poses.

At the Met

Tried a few pen sketches at the Met last weekend. It's been a while since I've tried a long-term study. Since I started working in animation I've found myself working more heavily in gesture. My rendering is something I want to improve this year. I'll be back to the Met with a large pad and charcoal soon.